GLENSIDE, Pa. – Freshman Bryan Gillen drove in the game-winning run as part of a two-run ninth-inning that gave the Arcadia University baseball team a 4-3 MAC Commonwealth victory over visiting Lebanon Valley College Friday at Erny Field. The Knights improved to 20-11-1 overall and 11-5 in conference play, while the Dutchmen fell to 14-19 overall and 6-10 in league play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Knights trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, and got the rally start with one out in the inning with freshman Nick Ponente getting hit by a pitch, advancing to second on senior Nick Todero's single to center, and coming around to score on junior Justin Chasmar's single through the right side of the infield. Todero advanced to third on that play, and Chasmar went to second after junior Jordan Draude was intentionally walked to load the bases, still with just one out in the inning.
 
Nathan Smith was able to get senior Michael Nessel to strike out swinging for the second out of the inning, but couldn't do the same to Gillen, who drove a 1-1 offering into center field that pushed Todero across the plate standing up with the game-winning run.
 
ON THE HILL: Junior Michael Ferrence picked up his first decision of the season after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth, fanning two of the three batters he faced, while Smith took the loss after giving up two runs in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Zach Manasek allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts over six innings, while sophomore Mark DiBattiste tossed two hitless innings of relief.
 
ARCADIA AT BAT: The Knights pounded out 13 hits on the day, which saw Gillen go 4 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Chasmar was 2 for 5 with an RBI, while Ponente finished 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior Jordan Draude had a triple and scored a run in the second, being driven in by an infield single that was beat out by senior Michael Nessel.
 
LEBANON VALLEY AT BAT: The Dutchmen managed only four hits in the game, Zac Edwards and Michael Puglisi were both 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Zach Smith was 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored.