Benvignati’s Cycle Highlights Florida Sweep

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Sam Benvignati (Aston, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) became the first player in Penn State Brandywine history to hit for the cycle in game two as the Lions swept a doubleheader from Alfred University at the RussMatt Invitational late Saturday night. Brandywine claimed victories by scores of 12-1 and 26-3.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 12, Alfred 1

Brandywine needed just nine hits, taking advantage of nine walks and four batters hit by pitch, to score its 12 runs in a 12-1 victory in the opener.

Ryan Snyder (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley), Shawn Webb (Drexel Hill, Pa./Bonner-Prendie) and Toby Skeans (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island) all recorded two hits for the Lions. Webb also stole four bases and scored twice, while Snyder drove in two runs and swiped a base.

Snyder started the game with a single and scored on Mike DeGirolamo's (Frederick, Md./Frederick) groundout to begin

 the scoring in the first. Snyder doubled the margin to 2-0 with a run-scoring base hit one frame later.

Brandywine added six runs in the third on three hits. Cam Baughman (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) led off with a triple and scored via error, while Webb walked and crossed home on a wild pitch and later forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk. Skeans added a RBI single and Snyder pushed Evan Shade (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) across with a sacrifice fly.

Two more runs scored in the fourth thanks to a pair of wild pitches before Benvignati added a sacrifice fly and Shade knocked in a run with a groundout in the fifth.

Connor Thompson (Finksburg, Md./Westminster) earned his second win in as many appearances this season as he tossed six innings, fanning six, while allowing one unearned run. Ty Coccia (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 26, Alfred 3

Benvignati made Brandywine history with four hits during the first four innings of the 26-3 triumph.

Benvignati led off the second inning with a triple and came around to score on Jamey Massung's (Phillipsburg, Pa./Phillipsburg-Osceola) base hit. One frame later, he added a two-run single. He came to the plate twice during a 12-run third inning, lifting a double to left before completing his cycle with a three-run inside-the-park home run to right field.

Benvignati finished the day 4-5 with four runs scored and a team-record eight RBI.

DeGirolamo added four hits and four runs scored, while Massung drove in five runs. The Lions totaled 20 hits offensively.

Jaylen Bryant (Brooklyn, N.Y./High School of Telecommunications) earned the win after striking out six and holding Alfred off the scoreboard for three innings. Coccia pitched three more innings in game two, while Abel Bartosek (Fort Worth, Texas/Chisholm Trail) tossed a scoreless seventh inning.

Brandywine (3-1) faces Penn State Fayette Sunday at 3:45 PM.