PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Thursday, April 14, 2011-- Arcadia University and Albright College went into today's Commonwealth conference game each looking for their first series win of the season, having split the double-header this past Sunday in Reading, Pa. The Lions of Albright jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and never looked back taking the game, 11-5 and the series, 2-1 over the Knights.

Albright scored three runs in the first inning, off five hits, putting their stamp on the game early. The Knights would answer back in the bottom of the first with a run, after sophomore Brandon Martin led the inning off a double and advanced to third off junior Marc Gottfried's sacfrice bunt. A deep floor-out by sophomore Jerry Smith would be good enough to score Martin from third and cut the Lion lead to 3-1. However, Albright would come right back in the top of the second, striking for two more runs, and pushing their lead out to 5-1.

After holding the Lions scoreless in the top of the third inning, Martin again would get the Knights jump started with a one out single up the middle. Albright knowing there was speed on the base paths tried to keep Martin close at first with several throws over, however, after falling behind in the count the Lions pitcher turned his focus back to the plate. The Knights would take advantage, Martin would steal second and on the very next pitch take third, to put a runner on third with only one down. Gottfried would get Martin home with his second sacrifice, this time with a fly to left field, bringing the Knights to within three runs.

Again, however, Albright would have an answer. A lead off double in the top of the fourth followed by an RBI single, and then another RBI double pushed two more runs across of the Lions. For every one run the Knights seemed to make up the Lions would answer with two more of their own keep Arcadia at arms distance. Looking for a third straight answer, Arcadia would get a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth to junior Kyle Jackson. The Knights seemed in business when the junior Mike McElhatton ripped the next pitch over the left fielders head, Jackson advanced to third but McElhatton was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play. So with a runner on third, first-year Jay Zehring stepped to the plate looking for a pitch he could drive. After a nearly caught foul fly, Zehring got just the pitch he was looking for and powered the ball over the left field wall for a two-run homer, bringing Arcadia with three runs at 7-4. Following an out, junior Mark Bowman and first-year Patrick Kwiatkowski each delivered two out singles in hopes to keep the rally alive, however, the Lions pitcher was able to get out of trouble with a fielder's choice to end the inning.

As with every other rally that the Knights had put up earlier in the game, Albright had an answer of its own, scoring four runs over the course of the next two innings to increase their advantage to 11-4. Arcadia would add one more run. However, Lion relief pitching shut down an thought of a comeback for the Knights, as they took the game 11-5.

First-Year Aaron Benusis suffered this afternoon's loss for the Knights, throwing four innings, giving up nine runs, eight earned on 14 hits before being relieved by classmate David Jacobs. Jacobs threw three innings surrendering two runs on four hits. Zehring pitched the final two scoreless innings for the Knights.

Arcadia returns to action tomorrow when they play host neighboring school Penn-State Abington in non-conference action. The first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.