MYRTLE BEACH, SC. – The University of Valley Forge Patriots Baseball (1-10) had a shootout with the Bulldogs from Dean College (3-5-1).

Game Summary – The Patriots took on the Bulldogs in a full nine inning game early in the morning at the Ripken Experience. The Bulldogs would strike first in the bottom of the first inning taking a 3-0 lead by some costly errors from the Patriots.
In the top of the third inning, Cody Rak started at the plate with a line drive down left field line for a single. Jeffery Espinal then reached first on a walk followed by a Waldo Odens Jr. sacrifice. With runners in scoring position for the Patriots, James Jackson capitalized with a double of his own scoring Rak and Espinal. Jackson reached third due to a wild pitch and crossed home to give the Patriots a one-run lead thanks to Marcus Fultz's sacrifice fly to left field. The Bulldogs and Patriots traded two runs a piece in the fourth.
The Patriots looked to separate themselves in the sixth going on to score another three runs. Brian Edwards included some great base running as he took advantage of his speed making it to third from a balk and stolen base. Rak took first after getting hit by a pitch and stole second to set the Patriots up with runners on second and third base. Espinal didn't waste an at-bat as he ripped a grounder through the middle scoring Edwards. Odens Jr. reached first base and drove in Rak from a single down left field line. Odens Jr. then stole second, third and scored off a passed ball to give the Patriots a 9-5 lead in the sixth.
The Patriots garnered another run in the top of the eighth coming from an RBI from Zach Nunnery scoring Espinal. The Patriots looked to close the game out and seal the deal on the Bulldogs, however, the Bulldogs would go on to score six runs on six hits from the Patriots' two errors to come back and steal the game from the Patriots.

Ryan Finch went 7 and 1/3 innings (111 pitches) in an impressive outing to keep the Patriots in the game. Bryan Reyes ended up being the losing pitcher giving up the deciding run with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Up Next: The Patriots turn around quickly and face the Cougars of Chatham College again in their final game at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC at 6PM March 9, 2018.