MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The University of Valley Forge Men's Baseball team went up against Albertus Magnus in a double header on Wednesday, March 11^th.  The Patriots erupted for 18 hits, and went on to earn their first win of the season! 
 
The early morning start didn't slow either team in the opening inning.  Senior Bryce Koch got the team off to a good start with a lead-off single.  Three batters later, with two runners on base, Patriots' Jared Boothman hit a two-out double to deep left center to take a 2-0 lead.  The Senior Boothman finished the game 4 for 5 from the plate, including two doubles and a triple.  Albertus countered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie it up.
 
After a scoreless second, Patriots' Matthew Buckery started the third inning with a lead-off double.  A Jeffrey Thrappas sac fly would then bring him home.  Again Albertus countered with two of their own runs to take a 4-3 lead.
 
Still trailing in the 5^th inning, another young Patriot stepped up with a clutch-hit.  After a second Buckery double, and a Joshua Stohm hit-by-pitch, sophomore Steve Profetto stepped up to the plate with two outs and runners on 2^nd and 3^rd.  Profetto lined a shot to right field and gave the Patriots a 5-4 lead!  In the bottom half of the inning Albertus' Jordan Kubilus hit a home run down the left field line to bring the game back to even.
 
With the cool morning air gone, and the blazing afternoon heat starting to set in, the 6^th inning became a slugfest!  The Patriots exploded with six runs on five hits in the top half of the inning, while Albertus brought four runs across the plate to make it an 11-9 game heading into the 7^th and final inning.
 
After a Buckery walk, Strohm hit a triple to deep left center to bring in an insurance run.  Then, it was Boothman's turn as he tripled to deep right center.  Finally, freshman Mason Brown doubled to right field to make it 14-9.
 
Senior Jon Manning, battling through the heat and pitching a complete game, got two of his eight strikeouts in the 7^th and closed it out for the Patriots first win of the young season.  The final score was 14-10. 
 
When asked about Manning's performance after the game, Head Coach Tom Pierson said, "To throw seven innings in that heat, it was very impressive.  He carried us today.  Our pitching is short staffed right now and we really needed that from him.  He stepped up and it was a big boost for us."
 
It's still very early in the season, but this team is showing a vast improvement from the previous year.  With a great blend of senior leadership and young talent, they are showing a lot of promise.
 
Senior lead-off man Bryce Koch had three singles and scored twice.  Freshman Matthew Buckery finished with two doubles, a triple, and scored four times.  Senior Joshua Strohm went 2 for 4 and scored three times.  Sophomore Steve Profetto had two singles and produced 4 RBI's.  Freshman Mason Brown also had a career-high three hits.
 
 
The second game of the double header did not see the same kind of results.  A very tired and drained Patriots team did not put up much of a fight.  Albertus went on to win convincingly, 22-3.
 
The Patriots will now get a short rest before an afternoon match-up on Thursday against Penn State Berks.
 
Go Patriots!