DeGirolamo’s Walk-Off Single Caps Late Rally In 10-9 Brandywine Victory

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine tied the game with two ninth-inning runs before Mike DeGirolamo (Fredrick, Md./Fredrick) delivered a walk-off single in the 10th to give the Lions' baseball team a 10-9 victory over Rosemont on Friday evening.

DeGirolamo lifted a base hit to center field, scoring pinch runner Lamar Thomas (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Performing Arts) with the game-winning run to cap a wild game in which Brandywine led by as many as four runs and trailed by as many as three runs.

The Lions trailed 9-7 entering the ninth inning, but scored twice to force an extra frame. Evan Abegg (Commerce City, Colo./Prairie View) worked a leadoff walk and moved to third when Max Tavarez (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) followed with a double. Jack Hedger's (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) groundout allowed Abegg to score, while pinch runner Nasir Jackson (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy) came around to score on the same play following a throwing error to knot the score at 9-9.

Ty Coccia (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) set Rosemont down in order in the 10th before Kyle Oechsle (Coopersburg, Pa./Palisades) opened the bottom of the 10th with a walk. Thomas, who ran for Oechsle, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Brandywine led 5-1 through two innings as Abegg's two-run single highlighted a three-run first inning and an error and groundout allowed Hedger and Cam Baughman (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) to score in the second.

Rosemont climbed within two after plating a pair in the third before adding four runs on four hits and two Brandywine errors in the fourth.

The Lions tied the count at 7-7 in the fifth as pinch-hitter Tyler Brooks (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) lifted a two-out, bases-loaded single to center field, plating Baughman and Tavarez.

A sacrifice fly allowed Rosemont to go back on top in the seventh. The Ravens added an insurance run during the frame following a Brandywine error before the Lions rallied in the ninth.

Hayden Altimari (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Anthony) produced three of Brandywine's 13 hits, while Brooks and Tavarez each tallied two. Brooks and Abegg both collected a pair of RBI and Abegg and Baughman each scored twice.

Brandywine collected 10 stolen bases, including four from Baughman and two by Brooks.

Coccia, Brandywine's fourth pitcher of the afternoon, earned his first win after striking out one in one inning of relief. Ben Norris (Wilmington, Del./Mt. Pleasant) pitched two scoreless innings, while Ricky Palmer (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) fanned three in four innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits in relief of Matt Brucato (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township). Brucato collected one strikeout, while pitching the first three innings.

Brandywine (13-11, 7-2 PSUAC) closes out a seven-game homestand Thursday against Penn State Schuylkill at 5:30 PM.