In a recent three-game series against Delaware Valley University, the Stevens Baseball team added two wins and a loss to their now overall 14-7 record. On Friday, March 29, the team secured a 10-6 victory, and the next day, Saturday, March 30, split the double-header with a 4-5 loss followed by a 13-0 win.
In the Friday game, Eli Somers led the Ducks with four hits and three runs. Sophomore pitcher Erik Sibbach helped earn the 10-6 victory, lasting almost seven innings on the mound and giving up only four hits and three runs while striking out nine. Senior pitcher Jacob Buurman followed suit and continued this strong pitching momentum, striking out both batters in the ninth with bases loaded.
Starting the game at bat was graduate student Ben Tobio who hit a single and later reached second on a passed ball and then third after Zachary Boykin grounded out. Tobio would put the Ducks up 1-0 after a single from graduate student Michael Reyes. The Aggies matched the Ducks’ intensity and took the lead to put the score 3-1 going into the third inning. To answer, first-year Chip Krese, Tobio, Somers, and first-year Garret Wolf each scored a run in the fourth inning.
In the beginning of the seventh inning, Stevens added two more to bring the score to 7-3, as senior Frank Tonina brought Reyes home to score on an RBI single. In the eighth, Reyes brought home both Tobio and Krese with a single as the Ducks went up 10-3. Delaware Valley put up three more runs between the eighth and ninth innings to bring the score to 10-6, but it was not enough as Stevens secured the win.
In the doubleheader on Saturday, Boykin led the Ducks with three hits, four RBI, and two runs as Stevens dropped the first game 4-5, but won 13-0 in the second game.
Graduate student pitcher Leo Bristow started the first game, pitching for four innings and only giving up four runs and six hits. Pitcher Matt Villapiano pitched two innings, walked two batters, and gave up one run and two hits.
In the first game, Delaware Valley scored twice in the first inning and added two more in the second, providing them with an early 4-0 lead. Needing runs, Tonina hit a double to kick off the bottom of the fifth, and senior Christian Kreiser and first-year Chip Krese tacked on back-to-back walks to load the bases. Tobio hit a ground ball, with every runner advancing while Tonina was out at the plate. Somers hit a single to bring home Kreiser and Krese. Boykin hit a double to clear the bases but was thrown out trying to make it a triple, tying the game at 4-4. Delaware Valley scored once in the seventh as they secured their victory for the first game.
In the second game, Stevens came back against the Aggies in the first inning. Tobio hit a double to start the game, while Somers followed with a single to put runners on third and first. Boykin picked up an RBI for Stevens as he singled to bring home Tobio. As bases were loaded multiple times throughout the game, the Ducks were on cruise control, taking a 13-0 lead and holding on for the victory through the seventh inning.
Across all three games, Stevens is now 10-3 all-time against the Aggies. The Ducks hop back into the win column as they prepare to take on No. 23/19 Montclair State on Monday, April 1.
