PHOENIXVILLE, PA – The University of Valley Forge Baseball Team put on a great show Thursday afternoon.  Solid defense, great pitching, and timely hitting helped the Patriots take down the University of Maine-Presque Isle in both games of double-header action.
 
In game one, Owls' leadoff man Brady Rowe found his way to third base with zero outs.  However, Patriots' pitcher Jeffrey Thrappas found a way to get out of the inning without giving up a run.  In the bottom half of the inning, freshman Matthew Buckery hit a one-out triple, and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Owls tacked on a run in the 3^rd inning, and another one in the 5^th to take a 2-1 lead.  Then, with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, senior Bryce Koch singled up the middle to spark a rally.  After stealing second base, Koch then scored on a clutch two-out single from Buckery.  The two-out lightning continued as senior Joshua Strohm double to left center to score Buckery.  The Patriots weren't done yet as Thrappas then singled to score Strohm.  The rally gave the Patriots a 4-2 lead at the end of the 5^th. 
 
Thrappas continued his strong outing on the mound with a one-two-three inning in the 6th.  Buckery singled in Eric Roop to add an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th, which was more than enough for Thrappas.  He pitched a solid 7^th inning to give the Patriots a 5-2 victory in game one.
 
Lead-off man Bryce Koch went 2 for 4 and scored once.  Buckery went 3 for 4, while scoring twice and also having 2 RBI's.
 
 
Game two got off to an exciting start as the opening pitch was ripped down the first base line.  However, Patriots' first baseman Bryce Koch made a great leaping catch to take away the hit. 
 
After the Owls went scoreless in the first, the Patriots came out fast in their half of the inning.  Six consecutive hits scored three Patriots to take an early 3-0 lead.  However, the Owls battled back and tied the game in the 3^rd inning.
 
Just when the Owls got back into it, the Patriots responded.  After a Steven Profetto double to put runners on second and third, first year player Zach Bowerman brought in a run.  Then, Patriots' Tyler Logan singled down the third base line to score Profetto and take a 5-3 lead.
 
In the 4^th inning, again the Owls responded by tacking on two runs, tying the game 5-5.  However, the Patriots had yet another answer!  After a Jeffrey Thrappas single, senior Jared Boothman hit a deep double to score Thrappas and take the lead.  Then, Profetto came up with another hit to bring Boothman home and take a 7-5 lead.
 
Meanwhile, freshman Matthew Buckery was gaining confidence on the mound.  In the final three innings he only surrendered one hit.  With a solid defense behind him, he pitched to contact and let his teammates take care of getting the outs.  The Owls did not provide any real threat the rest of the game and the Patriots held on to win, 7-5.
 
Bryce Koch had another solid game at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double.  Buckery and Thrappas also had two hits each.  Boothman had a very strong game at the plate as well, going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI's, and scoring 3 runs.  Sophomore Steven Profetto also went 3 for 4 and had 2 RBI's.
 
It was a great day for Patriots Baseball as they got two much needed wins.  Thrappas and Buckery each pitched complete games.
 
The Patriots now have a week off before returning back to action at PSU Schuylkill on April 9^th in double-header action.
 
Go Patriots!