ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Neumann University Baseball team used a two-run ninth to defeat Muhlenberg College in a non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon by a final score of 8-7.
Matt Mason led off the game with a single up the middle and moved to second, two batter later on an infield hit by
Joe Boccio. After a
Thomas Elgrim walk,
Brandon Colon drove in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly to plate Mason for a 1-0 lead. Muhlenberg responded in the bottom of the inning with their own sacrifice fly.
The top of the second started off with an infield knock by
Marcus White, followed by a single by
Owen Friddell and a walk to
Anthony Rakotz, loading the bases. Mason gave the Knights the lead with a sacrifice fly and two batters later, Boccio got an RBI single hit, scoring Friddell for a 3-1 Neumann lead.
Neumann continued the strong offensive start when B. Colon walked to start the third. He then stole second and moved to third on the catcher's throwing error.
Zion Spearman hit another Neumann sac fly to score Colon for a three-run advantage. The Mules got a run back in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single.
For the fourth straight inning, the Knights were able to put together a scoring effort. It started with a Mason walk and a steal of second.
AJ Nardo followed with a single that pushed Mason to third. Nardo then attempted to steal second and moved to third on another error. The error also allowed Mason to come home. After Boccio was beaned, Elgrim hit a sacrifice fly to score Nardo, and Neumann led by four.
Muhlenberg clawed back into the game in the bottom of the inning, plated three run on an RBI single, and RBI double, and an RBI single, getting within one. Both pitching staffs put up zeros until the bottom of the seventh when the Mules got a two-run single for a 7-6 lead.
In the top of the ninth, White was walked to lead things off and was bunted over to second on a sacrifice by Friddell. Rakotz was also walked and then both runners moved up on a Mason grounder. Nardo tied the game with an infield hit to third to score White. Rakotz scored the game-winner after an error by the left fielder. The Mules got the tying and winning runs on base, but the bullpen shut the door.
Boccio and White were both 3 for 4 on the game, each getting a double. Boccio had an RBI while White stole a base and scored two runs. Mason was 2 for 4 with a steal an RBI and two runs scored.
Morgan D'Amico earned the win in relief, hurling the last two innings. He gave up a couple of hits and walked three but also struck out two. He improves to 1-1 on the year.
Neumann (8-4) will be back on the field on Wednesday when they visit NJAC power, Rowan University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
