AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Neumann University Baseball team opened its 2017 campaign with an 8-6 win over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the first game of the Russ Matt Invitational.
The Neumann offense combined for 12 hits on the day, and relied on a stellar performance from the bullpen to secure the win.
Zach Youngberg picked up the win in relief, going 5.2 innings.
Jerome Cevetello pitched the ninth inning for the save.
Jon DelValle had three hits, two RBI and scored two runs in the win.
Joey Pedorenko,
Curt Yenchik and
Evan Emerich each had a pair of hits. The win is the first win for head coach
Dan DiBartolomeo at the helm of the Knights.
Neumann got off to a rocky start, allowing four runs in the third inning. The home side called upon relief pitcher Youngberg to stop the bleeding. Coming on with two outs, Youngberg picked the Rose-Hulman runner off at first to close out the inning.
DelValle wasted no time getting the Knights bats going in the home half of the third. A single followed by a
Matt McLaughlin walk put runners on first and second. After a Rose-Hulman wild pitch,
Eric Bergman was able to score DelValle with a ground ball to short, putting Neumann on the board.
Chuck Trentler then laced a single to plate
Matt McLaughlin, cutting the Rose-Hulman lead to 4-2.
The Neumann bats kept rolling in the fourth with a leadoff single by
Cody MacNair. A double down the left field line by Pedorenko and a walk drawn by
Nick Panissidi loaded the bases and set the table for DelValle to again ignite the offense. With a 2-1 count, DelValle ripped a fastball back up the middle to bring in MacNair and Pedorenko with a two RBI single. The Knights added a third run in the inning when Panissidi scored on an Emerich single two batters later. Neumann again scored in the fifth inning, carrying a 6-4 lead into the away half of the sixth.
Rose- Hulman closed the gap and locked up the score at 6-6 after scoring a run a piece in the sixth and eight innings.
In the home half of the eight, it was again the bat of DelValle that began the rally, as he led off the inning connecting with a fastball that found grass in left field for a double. With two outs in the inning and DelValle still on second, Bergman dug in and crushed a double to left center, bringing in DelValle and giving the Knights the lead that they wouldn't give back. An error on a Trentler line drive to short pushed the margin to 8-6, in favor of the blue and gold.
The top of the ninth saw Cevetello take the hill for the first time in 2017. The senior righty retired the three batters he faced, securing the win for the Knights.
Neumann starting pitcher
Zach Cooney took home a no-decision, allowing four runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out three in 2.2 innings pitched.
Neumann (1-0) will see action again tomorrow morning against Hanover College. First pitch is slated for 10:30 AM.
