Reading, PA- The Penn St. Berks Baseball Team could not pull off a late rally, falling in a nonconference match-up with local foe Lancaster Bible College by a score of 14-11 on Friday, March 21.  
 
The Lions (3-12 Overall, 1-1 UE) did not get off to a strong start as LBC (10-9 Overall, 1-1 UE) scored 11 runs in the third inning, building a 14-0 lead. Ryan Spatz came on as a relief pitcher and slowed the Chargers attack, pitching 1.2 innings allowing on one run.
 
Berks started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning. A pair of errors by the Chargers that allowed Berks to put two runners on second and third. Andrew Seibert drove a single through the left side, allowing both runners to score. Later in the inning, Travis Schiller blasted a single past second base, allowing Seibert to score. Peter DePolo III rounded out the rally, knocking a single into left field that brought home a run, making the score 14-4.
 
The Lions continued to chip away at the deficit, plating runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Isaiah Dull led off the seventh by getting hit by a pitch and then stealing second base. Back-to-back sacrifice flies, allow him to tag up and score. In the eighth inning, Cade Baumgardner singled into left field to start the rally. After Landon Eyster was hit by a pitch, Landon Reyes singled to left field, allowing Baumgardner to hustle around the bases and score.
 
While the offense was cutting down the deficit, the Lions bullpen kept LBC in check. Mike Kelemen and Josiah Reptsik made appearances on the mound, holding the Chargers to only two hits over a combined four innings of action.
 
Berks made on final charge in the bottom of the ninth inning. Dull led off getting hit for the second time, Schiller drew a walk and DePolo singled to load the bases. Jacob Berzonski worked a nine-pitch walk, allowing a run to score. Nicholas Buchman lifted a sacrifice fly into center field, allowing a run to score, cutting the deficit down to five. After Eyster singled to center field to load the bases, Reyes hit a sharp ground ball that brought home Berks' 10^th run of the game. Seibert added another single, this time through the left side, plating the fifth run of the inning and bringing the tying run to the plate. Berks could not complete the comeback, falling 14-11.
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will have a short turnaround as they host Saint Elizabeth University in a United East Doubleheader on Saturday, March 22. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

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