Briarcliffe Rallies To Edge Brandywine In Opener

VERO BEACH, Florida – Briarcliffe College (N.Y.) scored three times during the ninth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and claim a 9-8 victory, spoiling Penn State Brandywine's 2015 baseball season opener in Vero Beach, Fla.

Brandywine had taken an 8-6 edge during the top of the ninth behind the powerful bat of Tom Osenbach (Newtown Square, Pa./West Chester Christian), who laced his second long double to left field, this one a two-out, two run hit that plated a pair.

Ryan Mero started the Bulldogs' ninth-inning rally with an RBI single. He came around to score on a fielder's choice before Zach Mastran drove in the winning run with a two-out, bases-loaded single.

Josh Dellipriscoli (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) gave Brandywine a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he stole home, but Briarcliffe quickly tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a run-scoring ground out.

Brandywine retook the lead in the third, plating a pair of runs. Tommy Crumlish (Upper Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) led off with a double, moved to third following Dellipriscoli's sacrifice bunt and came around to score on Evan Cline's (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) base hit. Two batters later, Osenbach ripped a double off the left field fence to score Cline.

The Lions tacked on two more unearned runs in the fifth as Cline and Gabe Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) crossed home following a throwing error; however, Briarcliffe tallied four runs during the next two innings to knot the score at 6-6. Four of those runs were unearned.

Osenbach recorded a pair of hits and drove in three, while Cline and Crumlish also posted two-hit performances. Cline and Crumlish both scored a pair of runs and recorded one RBI a piece.

Brandywine starting pitcher Brian Pennock (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) struck out seven and yielded just two earned runs in 5.2 innings, but received a no decision. Osenbach took the loss on the mound, allowing three runs. Chris Skahill (Media, Pa./Penncrest) tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief during his first collegiate appearance on the mound.

Zach Mastrangelo led the Briarcliffe offense with three hits, two runs and one RBI.

Brandywine is back in action Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.