MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- Eastern University Baseball used solid pitching and timely offense to beat Penn State Berks 12-5. The Eagles, playing in their first game on spring break, built a 10-0 lead after six innings and held on for the win. Starter Jim Edelman allowed just a pair of hits in six innings of shutout ball to earn his first win of the year.
Eastern scored a single run in the first without the benefit of hit. Scott Renauro drew the first of his three walks on the evening to start the inning and he moved to second when Derek Ryan was hit by a pitch. Dan Garcia reached on an error to load the bases, and Mike McNulty fisted a ground ball to the right side of the infield to drive in the first run. The Lions escaped without further damage on a neat double play to end the inning.
Edelman faced the minimum in the second, and the Eagles scored a pair in the bottom of the inning. Greg DeSarro drew a lead-off walk and Devon Ziegenfuss was hit by a pitch. Joel Rios bunted the two batters into scoring position. DeSarro scored on an André Butler ground out and Ziegenfuss scampered home on a wild pitch to put the Eagles up 3-0.
Neither team scored in the third inning, and it looked like the Lions were going to carve into the deficit when they loaded the bases with one out in the top of the inning. Edleman got the ground ball to third and Rios did not hesitate to cut down the lead runner at the plate. Ryan touched the plate for the force and fired to first to finish the rally before any damage was done.
With the big play in the field, the Eagles seemed to seize control of the momentum of the game. Ziegunfus reached on a single that was lost in the lights. The sophomore outfielder reached third with a stolen base and a throwing error. Rios walked and Ziegunfuss scored when Rios stole second and advanced to third on another errant throw. Renauro drove in a run with a deep sacrifice fly. Garcia picked up his second of four hits on the day to drive in the sixth run of the game.
"We didn't pick up every opportunity today, " said Eastern Head Coach Matt Midkiff, "but we did a better job working counts and hitting in some big spots. We bunted and ran today. We told the guys before the game that when hits aren't falling, that you have to find other ways to score runs. We did that today. Jimmy was very effective in the start as well."
Ryan delivered a big blow in a four-run sixth with a flare down the left field line that fell for a 2 RBI double. Garcia then squared up a high fastball for a two run single to push the lead to 10-0.
The Eastern bullpen encountered control problems to give the Lions new life, but Jon Taylor coaxed a ground ball for an inning-ending double play in the eighth and went unscathed through the ninth after DeSarro drove in a pair with another hard-hit single.
The Eagles continue spring break baseball at the Ripken Experience complex with a noon game against Penn State Harrisburg tomorrow.
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