ANNVILLE, Pa.– Eastern University Baseball scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game at 9-9, but the host Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen pushed a run across in the bottom of the inning to win 10-9.  Angelo Kelly drove in three runs and Brady DiGiacomo went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI's to lead the Eastern attack.

The Eagles trailed 9-6 headed to the ninth inning. Britton Lawrence started the rally when he was hit by a pitch. DiGiacomo singled up the middle to bring the tying run to the plate. After a strikeout, Shane Albertson bunted to try to load the bases, he was retired at first, but that put a pair of runners in scoring position for Kelly. The senior outfielder delivered with his 36th hit of the year, a double to left center field.

With Kelly already in scoring position, the LVC coaching staff elected to walk Timmy Gorton intentionally. As he did on Saturday, Andrew Boykin was up to the task. The senior first baseman singled through the left side to drive in Kelly. He and Gorton both moved into scoring position on the throw home. The rally went no further as the inning ended with a strikeout.

"We came out flat offensively and gave some at bats away" Head Coach Jed Morris said after the game. "We didn't have our mental A game at the start of the game.  By the time we got it going the damage has been done. I expect us to be much more mentally locked in on Friday."

The Dutchmen (17-13) got their run after a walk and a pair of bunts loaded the bases with no one out. The Eagles thought they had the runner at third on the second bunt, but the runner was ruled safe and the Eagles had to move everyone in. The next hitter flipped a ball into right-center to end the game.

Eastern scored first on DiGiacomo fly ball in the third to drive in Jordan Laboy, but the Dutchmen built a 6-1 lead heading to the fifth inning. The Eagles scratched out three runs on four singles and an error.

After LVC scored once in the sixth, the Eagles again closed the gap with a pair of runs. Lawrence started the rally with a one-out triple. The Eagles loaded the bases before Lawrance came home on an Albertson sacrifice fly. Kelly then singled home DiGiacomo before Gorton grounded out to end the rally. With his 0-for-4 day today, Gorton's average has dropped to .449.

The Dutchmen scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to set up the final inning.

Matt Bunjo threw two scoreless innings to start the game, and the Eastern bullpen pieced together the rest of the game.

"Matt did a great job throwing strikes and keeping them off balance," Morris said. "Roniel [Diaz] also came in and did a very solid job battling on the mound." 

The Eagles (10-15) will play at Misericordia on Friday and will host the Cougars for a doubleheader on Saturday.