READING, Pa. – The Albright Lions baseball team rallied twice to sweep a home doubleheader over Wilson on Sunday afternoon in non-conference play. The Lions took game one 4-1 before taking game two 5-4 on a walk-off.
With the wins, the Lions improve to 2-2 overall as they bounce back from dropping two games against Marymount last Sunday. Meanwhile, the Phoenix open the season 0-2 in their second season as a program.
GAME ONE
The first game began as a pitcher's duel with each team being set down in order in the first. Following another 1-2-3 inning from Lions senior starting pitcher
Shaun O'Reilly, the Lions got their first hit of the contest as sophomore
Josh Jacavage doubled to deep right field to set the Lions up with runners on second and third with one out. However, a strikeout and fly out ended the Lions chance to get on the board. O'Reilly gave up his first hit of the game to lead off the third inning before eventually picking off the runner at first base. The Phoenix put runners on first and second base with two outs, but O'Reilly forced a foul out to end the frame. Albright loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the third before a fly out ended the rally. O'Reilly continued to keep the Phoenix off the board despite giving up hits in the fourth and fifth innings as the game went scoreless into the sixth inning. Wilson was finally able to break through in the top of the sixth as they took advantage on a dropped fly ball following a two-out triple. Senior
Logan Adams opened the bottom of the sixth with a walk, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jacavage came through with a RBI triple in the following at-bat to tie the score at one. Sophomore
Jeremy Brubaker then crushed a go-ahead two-run home run after Jacavage's triple to put the Lions up 3-1. Albright continued the rally by putting runners on first and second with one out, and picked up an insurance run on a two-out RBI single from sophomore
Nick Sklenarik. Brubaker came in the top of the seventh to relieve O'Reilly, and struck out the side to grab his first save of the season.
GAME TWO
Lions senior starting pitcher
Nick Dinnocenti opened the second game by working his way out of a jam as a Phoenix runner made it to third base with two outs in the top of the first. Wilson put runners on first and second in the top of the second inning following a single and dropped fly ball in the outfield. The Phoenix then took the early 1-0 lead on a RBI double to left field with two outs in the inning. Albright put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the second before a strikeout and foul out ended the frame. The Phoenix were able to chase Dinnocenti by scoring three runs on two hits to go up 4-0. Wilson loaded the bases with one out, and grabbed two runs on a single up the middle. The Phoenix tacked on its final run of the inning after a rundown between first and second base resulted in the runner that was on third base scoring. Albright put its first two runners on in the bottom of the third, and took advantage of a dropped ball in deep left field that would have been the final out of the inning. Seniors
Brandon Daubert and
Logan Pennypacker raced home on the play to cut the Phoenix lead to 4-2. Albright then made it a 4-3 game in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error from the Phoenix shortstop with a runner on first base. Senior pitcher
Will Tokarski worked his way out of a jam in the top of the sixth as he forced a deep fly ball to the warning track in centerfield with runners on second and third base. Tokarski then worked his way out of another jam in the top of the seventh as he stranded Phoenix runners on second and third base. Sklenarik and senior
Jimmie Gentry opened the bottom of the seventh with singles before senior catcher
Jack Shevlin tied the game with a single to right field. Albright loaded the bases with two outs, and scored the game-winning run after sophomore
Will Algard was hit on the second pitch of his at-bat.
Tokarski earned the win in game two in relief after tossing 4.2 shutout innings, allowing four hits, and striking out five on 70 pitches. O'Reilly grabbed the win in game one behind allowing just one unearned run, five hits, and striking out seven on 100 pitches. Gentry went 2-of-4 in game two with a run scored after going hitless in the first game. Jacavage went 2-of-3 from the plate with a RBI and run scored in game one before drawing a pair of walks in game two. The Lions stole four bases in the first game.
The Lions will return to action on Tuesday, March 3
rd as they will host Cairn at 3 p.m. in non-conference action.
