OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Neumann University Baseball team dropped a tough 7-6 decision in 10 innings against Stevenson University on Wednesday afternoon.
After a scoreless first inning,
Brayden Fields smashed a home run, a solo shot, for the 1-0 lead. In the third,
Brody Foltz led off with a walk and moved to second on a grounder.
Donovan Brooks followed with a single to the pitcher, advancing Foltz to third.
Jackson Armiger drove him in with a sacrifice fly to double the lead.
Yoan Feliz led off the fourth with a hit by pitch. Two batters later, Fields reached on a bunt base hit to get Feliz to second.
Anthony Rakotz came in to pinch hit and slipped a single to left, plating Feliz for the 3-0 lead. Stevenson responded in the fourth thanks to a two-run single and an RBI single, tying the game.
With one out in the fifth, the Knights manufactured their way back to the lead. Armiger was hit by a pitch,
Nick Ciesielka walked, and Feliz was hit to load the bases.
Tyler Kilmer made it a 4-3 game with a sacrifice fly to bring home Armiger. Kilmer again factored in the seventh when he reached base on a hit by pitch. Fields followed with his second home run of the game, and third of the season, making it a 6-3 game.
The lead didn't last long as the Mustangs tied the game again in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer and a run-scoring error. Neumann got the lead run into scoring position in both the eighth and 10
th innings but could not convert. Stevenson was able to win the game in the bottom of the 10
th and a walk, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch.
Fields led for the Knights, hitting 3 for 5 with two homers, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Brooks was 2 for 5 with a walk and three stolen bases.
Max Brown had a solid performance in relief as he went 2.1 innings of shut out ball on two hit and two walks, striking out three.
Alex Gambol was also effective with a perfect 1.1 innings with a strikeout.
Kyle Dailey suffered the loss to fall to 2-1.
Neumann (16-12-1, 6-6 Atlantic East) will return to action on Friday when they host Centenary University in a rescheduled Atlantic East doubleheader, starting at 1:00 PM.
