BOX SCORE

Annville, Pa. (Apr. 11, 2014) - Lebanon Valley College (17-9, 8-5) scored the last six runs of the game in a 9-6 win over Alvernia University (18-7, 10-3) Friday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at LVC's McGill Field.

Alvernia starter Aaron Benusis (Bristol, Conn./Bristol) took a shutout into the fifth, but gave up seven runs over the next two innings.  He left with two out in the sixth inning with a 6-5 lead, but Tim Filer drove home two with a double off Matt Backlund (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) before Backlund closed the inning with a pop out.

The Dutchmen bullpen allowed just four hits with four strikeouts and didn't allow a run over the final three and a third innings.

Alvernia scored single runs in the second and third then tacked on two in the fourth.  It added a fifth run in the top of the fifth before LVC got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the inning.  Alvernia went up 6-3 with an unearned run in the top of the sixth before LVC's 4-run inning.  It scored one run on a 1-out walk then back-to-back hits.  Benusis got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but then gave up an RBI-single before getting pulled.

Backlund went full on Filer before the senior drove a two-run double down the line in right.

LVC tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.  Alvernia put single runners on base in each of the last three innings, but were kept off the board.

Richie Ricciardi (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) led the offense with three hits, a run, and an RBI.

The two teams complete the 3-game series Saturday at Alvernia.

Lebanon Valley 9, Alvernia 6