DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill Baseball fell in eight innings to NCAA Division III opponent Delaware Valley.
With neither team scoring during the opening inning, Ryan Jarboe (Pottsville, PA / Blue Mountain High School) walked with the bases loaded to give Schuylkill an early 1-0 lead in the game. A fielder's choice and an error in the bottom of the inning allowed Delaware Valley to score three runs heading into the third inning.
Consecutive walks by Owen Zimmerman (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School), Nate Gilbert (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School), and Brenan Adams (Pottsville, PA / Pottsville Area High School) to start the top of the third resulted in two runs as Kyle Kaminski (Lodi, NJ / Saint Mary High School) doubled on the next play. Schuylkill matched Delaware Valley's second inning run total of three following a wild pitch.
Ethan Naftzinger (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) singled through the left side in the top of the fourth inning, later advancing on a throw and driving in two runs for Schuylkill. Zimmerman would drive in a run for Naftzinger a few plays later to increase Schuylkill's lead to 7-3. A double and a single by Adams and Kaminski, respectively, gave Schuylkill two additional runs before the end of the inning. Delaware Valley scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning following a single to the right side.
Schuylkill extended their lead to 11-4 after a single by Pedro Rosario (Reading, PA / Wyomissing Area High School) brought in two additional runs. Delaware Valley fought their way back into the game by totaling five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Schuylkill increased their lead to 12-9 after Naftzinger flied out to the infield, driving in his third run of the game. A single and double by Conner Licklider (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) and Zimmerman set up runs for each as Gilbert doubled through the right side to give Schuylkill a 14-9 lead heading into the eighth inning.
Delaware Valley came out strong during the eighth inning, tying the score at fourteen before recording their second out of the inning. Facing three outs, Delaware Valley scored two game-winning runs following a single up the middle. The game was called due to darkness, handing Delaware Valley the win.
Kaminski finished 3-5 at bat with a double and three RBIs. Gilbert, Zimmerman, Naftzinger, and Adams also hit doubles, while Naftzinger added three RBIs.
Schuylkill (9-6 overall, 0-0 PSUAC) will enter conference play on Friday, March 22nd as they travel to Penn State Brandywine.
