Box Score

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – It was a back and forth battle all afternoon as the Lions (5-17/2-8 CC) faced the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College (14-8/7-3 CC) in another crucial conference match-up. The two teams would exchange control of the lead throughout the nine inning contest, but it was the Blue Jays that managed to slip through the Lions claws and take a 6-5 conference win Friday afternoon at Boyd Stadium.

Down 6-4 going into the top of the ninth inning, the Lions got an early run from junior pinch hitter Matt Pannella, who recorded his first career home run. Pannella's long ball was the first for Albright since their spring break trip to Florida, and made it just a one run game with only one out on the scoreboard.

Unfortunately, the Blue Jay's defense held strong as they retired two of the afternoon's final three batters to take the conference win. Prior to the ninth inning dramatics, the Lions actually started off Friday's contest on a great note, taking 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Driving in the early run was junior Justin Danser on a single through the right side. His hit would score classmate Pat Brady, who initially led off the contest with a single of his own.

After taking the early one run lead, the Blue Jays would respond with a pair of runs in the second to take their first lead of the afternoon. From there, Albright would even the score at 2-2 in the fourth, but it was Etown who jumped right back out in front scoring two more runs in the fifth.

Those two runs proved to be the deciding factor, as Albright held the Blue Jays to just a single run in the sixth and eighth innings. The Lions would put up three more runs through the final six innings of play, but would never get the crucial game tying run they needed.

On the hill senior Casey Lawrence went all eight innings allowing nine hits, while also striking out eight Blue Jays. Leading the Blue Jays bullpen was Adam Hartzell who went seven complete innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while also recorded six K's. Greg Katz earned the save after two complete of innings of work in which he gave-up one run on one hit.

At the plate, Brady went 2-for-3 on the day with one double, a walk, and two runs scored. Danser closed out the afternoon going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.

Steve Motiack fueled the Blue Jays bats going 3-for-4 overall with one run scored. Anthony Heaps who homered in the second to give the Blue Jays the 2-1 lead went 1-for-4 against the Lions.

Baseball returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Blue Jays at Kelchner Field. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.