Cabrini Takes Back-And-Forth Doubleheader From Brandywine

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine led in both games of its season-opening doubleheader against Cabrini, but the Cavaliers rallied in each contest to sweep the twin bill from the Lions, winning game one by a score of 10-9 before claiming the nightcap 5-3.

Brandywine scored its first run of the season during the first inning of game one. After loading the bases with two outs, Brian Reynolds (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.

The Cavaliers, playing their first-ever baseball games, answered with two runs in the second and one in the third to grab a 3-1 lead. Brandywine got one run closer in the fourth when Kevin Roche (Malvern, Pa./Chaminade College Prep) singled in Reynolds after Reynolds singled with one out and advanced to second via Cabrini error.

Brandywine retook the lead in the fifth, plating five runs during the frame. Cabrini reliever Andrew Del Guidice walked the bases loaded and Roche and Reynolds both delivered run-scoring singles, with Roche's base hit giving Brandywine a 4-3 edge. Zac Sarkis (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) forced in a third run by walking with the bases loaded before Tommy Crumlish (Upper Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) added a run-scoring knock. Roche later came around to score the final run of the frame on a wild pitch.

However, Cabrini responded immediately by plating six runs during the bottom of the fifth to vault back into the lead. Dylan Butler tacked on a solo home run in the sixth to push the Cavalier lead to 10-7.

Reynolds got Brandywine's seventh-inning rally started with a leadoff double. After Roche moved Reynolds to third with a groundout and Sarkis earned a base on balls, Robert Spitaletta (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge) drove in Reynolds with a base hit to center. Crumlish cut the deficit to one run by scoring Roche on a sacrifice fly, but Josh Breittholz recorded the final out, stranding a Brandywine runner in scoring position to end the Lions' comeback bid.

Reynolds reached base four times and collected three hits, while scoring three runs and driving in a pair to lead Brandywine at the plate. Roche added two hits and two RBI, while Crumlish also knocked in two runs.

Starting pitcher Bradley Ulmer (Newark, Del./St. George's Tech) tossed the first four innings, allowing two earned runs, while striking out three. Joe Samohod (Morton, Pa./Ridley) took the loss for Brandywine after facing six batters in the fifth inning.

Butler homered twice, while Tyler Norris went 4-for-4 to pace Cabrini.

Brandywine again took an early lead with a pair of first-inning scores during game two. Crumlish was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and scored on Roche's groundout before Matt Masi (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) tripled in Kevin Dougherty (West Chester, Pa./Rustin).

Cabrini plated a run in the second, but Brandywine got that run back in the top of the third when Masi tripled with two outs and scored on a passed ball.

However, Butler hit his third homer of the day, a two-run shot, to tie the game during the bottom of the frame and Cabrini took the lead by scoring runs on a bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch in the fourth.

Brandywine put two runners in scoring position with two outs in the seventh, but Jake Dohar retired the final batter to help secure the sweep for Cabrini.

Dohar fired four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win, while Tyler Michaels (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) surrendered five runs (four earned) in three innings on the hill and took the loss. Kevin Sessa (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) tossed three innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.

Masi and Spitaletta both collected two hits for Brandywine.

The Lions (0-2) will open a four-game series against Fisher College (Mass.) with a Saturday doubleheader at Maple Zone slated to begin at noon.