After the conclusion of the baseball tournament in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, Florida over spring break, the Elizabethtown College baseball team finally came home to host their first home game against the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen. Earlier in the season during the tournament, the Blue Jays took a win against the Dutchmen, winning in a high-scoring 10-7 final, after a combined nine runs were scored in the game’s fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Junior pitcher Quintin Perilli got the nod on the mound for the Blue Jays to start the game, coming off his last outing of only one earned run through six and a third innings pitched against Heidelberg University. Through the first, Lebanon Valley and Etown held each other scoreless, with the Blue Jays retiring to start the game. The second inning was a different story, as the Dutchmen loaded the bases through two singles and a walk with no outs to add pressure on Perilli. Perilli walked in the first run of the game, giving Lebanon Valley the first run and putting them on the board early. After two straight sacrifice flies and a fly out, the Dutchmen ended the top of the second leading 3-0 early. Etown got their chance to strike in the bottom of the second, with a walk and an error by the first baseman, along with a sacrifice bunt, put the Blue Jays on second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly gave Etown their first run of the game as they trailed Lebanon Valley 3-1 heading into the third inning.

The third was similar to the first, with Etown being held hitless in the inning and Lebanon Valley stranding one on base to end the inning, however, the Dutchmen found a spark in the fourth inning, rallying four runs off of five singles and a double, giving Lebanon Valley a six-run lead. Etown struggled for the next three innings, being held hitless by sophomore pitcher Hunter Williams, who allowed only one hit over seven innings for the Dutchmen in his start. Capitalizing after Lebanon Valley went to the bullpen for the first time, Etown came out strong, putting together five runs in the bottom of the eighth, giving the reliever five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. The Dutchmen weren’t done yet, adding another three runs in the top of the ninth off of a triple and two singles which brought Lebanon Valley to a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Etown made a valiant effort to make a miraculous comeback, with the Blue Jays loading the bases with one out, scoring two off a sacrifice fly and a single down the right field line. However, it wasn’t enough as the Dutchmen bested the Blue Jays with a final score of 10-8 in a thrilling high-scoring performance by both teams.

First-year shortstop Nate Moser led the charge for Etown, hitting two for three, tacking on two RBIs and a run. Senior catcher Joe Limongelli put together a strong performance, hitting one for four on the day, however, was left on base four times. Perilli threw 73 pitches through four innings, giving up 11 hits and seven runs, which were all earned, and struck out one batter in his performance. The Blue Jays will play their next home game on March 29 against Salisbury University in a double-header with the games beginning at 12 p.m. with a 3 p.m. game to follow.