Lions Top TIU For First Win

VERO BEACH, Fla. – Penn State Brandywine claimed its first victory of the season and gave Head Coach Vinny Gallo his first career win by edging Trinity International University 7-4 on Saturday morning during the Lions' first game of their Spring Break trip in Vero Beach, Fla.

Six of Brandywine's seven runs scored during the top of the first inning as the Lions collected five hits and sent 10 batters to the plate. Brian Reynolds (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown), John Gorgone (Ridley, Pa./Ridley) and Joey Buoni (Chester Heights, Pa./Salesianum) all recorded RBI singles, while Kevin Dougherty (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) delivered the big hit in the frame with a bases-clearing, two-out double off the right field fence.

Two innings later, Dougherty added a second two-base hit, scoring Will Scott-Norris (Wilmington, Del./Mt. Pleasant), as Brandywine built a 7-0 lead.

The Trojans answered with two runs during the bottom of the third and two more in the fifth, but would get no closer.

Dougherty, Gorgone and Reynolds all recorded two hits to lead the Lions' offense, while Tyler Michaels (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) earned his first win of the season on the mound. Michaels pitched the first six innings, striking out one and allowing four runs. Nate Forwood (Wilmington, Del./Mt. Pleasant) picked up his first save of the year by striking out a pair during the seventh inning.

Brandywine (1-6) is right back in action Saturday night at 7:00 pm against Miami-Hamilton.