READING, Pa. – The Albright baseball team honored its seven seniors after Friday's home finale against Lebanon Valley at Kelchner Field. For most of the day, it looked like the ceremony would send the senior class off with a victory. Lebanon Valley, however, needing a win to clinch a spot in the MAC Commonwealth tournament, used a two-out, three-run home run in the top of the ninth as part of a five-run inning to defeat the Lions, 8-5.

Before the Dutchmen's ninth-inning rally, the Lions carried the lead all the way from the bottom of the second inning. Albright used three straight hits to start the second in scoring two runs. Tanner Brescancine led off with a single, and he moved to third on a double by Noah Beebe down the left field line. Jimmie Gentry singled home Brescancine to make it 1-0, and Beebe scored on Zach Krause's sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Albright added a run in the third. Nathan Fretz led off with a base hit. After moving to second on a ground out, he scored on Jeff Yordy's single through the left side to make it 3-0.

Lebanon Valley got a run back in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1, and the Dutchmen had their sights set on taking the lead in the top of the fifth. They loaded the bases with two outs when Joshua Marcelli lifted a deep fly to center. Yordy closed quickly on the ball and made a great grab to prevent any damage in the frame. That play supported starter Trevor Mastria. He went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while fanning six.

Yordy contributed with his bat in the bottom of the fifth. Austin Roth led off with a double, and Fretz reached after being hit by a pitch. After Micah Storms' moved both runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt, Yordy came through with his second RBI hit of the day. This single up the middle scored both runs to make it 5-1.

Lebanon Valley scored two runs in the top of the seventh to cut its deficit to 5-3. Will Tokarski induced a fly out with the tying run on first to end that threat, but the Dutchmen came back for more in the ninth inning. Lebanon Valley had two men on in its last at-bat courtesy of walks, but the Dutchmen were down their final out. Designated hitter Philip Berry homered to center field to push Lebanon Valley to a 6-5 lead. The Dutchmen added two more to make it 8-5.

The Lions didn't go quietly in its last at-bat. Pinch hitter Logan Adams walked, and Fretz was beaned for a second time to bring the tying run to the plate. After a strikeout, Yordy lined out sharply to second, and that turned into a game-ending double play.

Yordy was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and he stole four bases. That ties the school record for stolen bases in a game, set by Bob Maro against Widener in 1997.

Gentry and Roth each had two hits to join Yordy with multi-hit games. Roth and Beebe each had doubles to account for the team's extra-base hits.

Albright finishes the season with a doubleheader at Lebanon Valley tomorrow at noon.