DVC RALLIES TO POST 11-8 WIN OVER KING'S BASEBALL
DOYLESTOWN, PA -- Visiting King's College opened up an 8-4 lead through six innings, but host Delaware Valley rallied for seven unanswered runs over the last three frames to post an important 11-8 win over the Monarchs Friday afternoon at Frank Wolfgang Field.
The loss drops King's to 14-17-1 overall and 9-9-1 in Freedom play. The Monarchs still hold a half-game lead over Wilkes for the final playoff spot with two games remaining on their slate. Delaware Valley improves to 7-19 overall and 4-12 in league games.
King's began the game swinging hot bats taking a 1-0 lead after one inning of play. Joey Troxell led-off the game with a single and later moved to second on a wild pitch. King's next batter Rob Lemoncelli reached on an error and Troxell would score as Lemoncelli advanced to second on a throwing miscue by the Aggies.
The Monarchs added to their lead in the second scoring three runs on four hits in the frame. Brenton Eades started the rally with a single followed by a double from Tim Marchetti. Matt Pritchard would then connect on a two-run single up the middle scoring both Eades and Marchetti. Pritchard came around to score on an Anthony Re double to put King's up 4-0.
The host Aggies chipped into the lead scoring one run in the fourth after a lead-off triple.
Two more runs in the fifth gave King's a 6-1 advantage. The Monarchs loaded the bases thanks to two singles and a walk. Marchetti was up to the task again this time with an RBI fielder's choice. Pritchard added his third RBI of the game when he walked with the bases full scoring Rich Acierno.
Delaware Valley answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-4. King's continued their scoring tear with two more insurance runs in the top half of the sixth taking an 8-4 lead, using two hits to cause the damage. Lemoncelli singled and Chris Sweeney walked to setup the inning. Both scored later on a two-run single from Mike Fignar.
From there the Aggies began their furious rally. Delaware Valley used a six-hit, five-run sixth to take their first and only lead of the contest, 9-8. Two more insurance runs in the seventh enable the hosts to steal an important conference win on their home diamond.
Re and Acierno eached finished 2-for-5 for King's at the plate. Pritchard was 1-for-2 with three RBI. Fignar posted a 1-for-5 afternoon including the two run single.
On the mound, Joe Dorbad started and went 5 1/3 innings allowing eight hits and eight earned runs. Eades came on in relief to pitch 2 2/3 innings allowing six hits and three earned runs.
The Monarchs will try to salvage the series with two wins in the doubleheader tomorrow at Lipo Field to keep their playoff hopes alive. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
