READING, Pa. – The Albright baseball team earned a split against Stevenson in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Kelchner Field. The Lions easily dispatched the Mustangs 13-4 in game one before suffering a 7-3 loss in game two.
 

With the split, the Lions earned their first win of the 2021 season as their record moves to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile, the Mustangs move to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
 

GAME ONE
Stevenson jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning on a two-run single to left field to go up 2-0. However, the Lions caught a break when the Mustang runner was thrown out at second as he tried to leg out a double. The Mustangs extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second on a single after the leadoff hitter advanced to third following a single and an error on a stolen base attempt. Junior first baseman Josh Jacavage roped a double down the first base line for the Lions first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the second. A double from senior outfielder Brandon Daubert advanced Jacavage to third before he came around to score on a throwing error in the next at-bat. First-year outfielder Ethan Karel drove in a second run for the Lions on a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat to make it a 3-2 game. Albright was then able to load the bases before a fly out ended the frame. The Lions loaded the bases again with one out in the bottom of the third inning, and tied the game on a single from sophomore second baseman Reece Adam. Albright was unable to take the lead as a double play in the next at-bat ended the inning. The Lions were able to bust the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth as they scored eight runs on seven hits to take a commanding 11-3 lead.
 

The first two Lions advanced to second and third base to open the inning, and were both brought home on a two-run single from junior third baseman Nick Sklenarik to give the Lions the initial 5-3 lead. Junior Dylan Harlos crushed a two-run homer on the first pitch to left field in the next at-bat to put Albright up 7-3. Following a walk from Jacavage, Daubert went deep to left center to extend the Lions lead out to 9-3. The Lions grabbed their final two runs of the inning off a hit by pitch and a walk in bases loaded situations. Senior pitcher Will Tokarski escaped a jam in the top of the fifth after putting runners on first and second with two outs. Albright again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and took advantage on a fielder's choice from first-year Trey Smith. Stevenson cut the Lions lead down to 12-4 on a home run off the first pitch of the inning before the next three batters were retired in order. Daubert was able to cap the game with a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 13-4.
 

GAME TWO
Albright looked to continue to gain momentum in the second game as they loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. Unfortunately for the Lions, a double play put a clamp on the threat in the next at-bat. Stevenson jumped ahead with six runs in the top of the second, four of which came on a grand slam to center with two outs. The Lions were unable to take advantage of a leadoff double in the bottom of the second, and fell behind 7-0 an inning later after Stevenson led the inning off with a double. Sophomore catcher Austin Gromlich put the Lions on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left field to make it a 7-1 game. Albright cut into the Mustangs lead again in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on three hits to make it 7-3. Gromlich drew a walk with one out and was driven home in the next at-bat from Adam. Karel followed Adam with a single down the leftfield line to score the second run of the game for the Lions. The strong performance from the Lions bullpen continued as they stranded a pair of Mustang batters on the bases. Albright had one last good chance at the Mustangs in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
 

Daubert became the fifth player in Lions baseball history to record five hits in a game as he went a perfect 5-of-5 from the plate, scored three runs, drove in three RBI's and hit his first home run for the Lions in 2021. Daubert became to first player since Matt Pannella in 2011 to record five hits in the game for Albright. Four different players tallied two hits in the first game win for the Lions, and Tokarski earned his first win of 2021. Senior pitcher Ryan Kalinich suffered the loss in game two after allowing seven earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Alex Kidwiler suffered the loss for the Mustangs in game one as he allowed nine runs (eight unearned) on 11 hits and three strikeouts. Kidwiler bounced back after hitting a grand slam in game two, and Malcolm Edelin earned the win after allowing just one earned run on seven hits along with two strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Gavin Budzyn tossed four scoreless innings in relief on the Lions as he allowed two hits and struck out one.
 

The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, March 24^th as they will host Messiah in a solo nine-inning non-conference game starting at 3:30 p.m.