Box Score

Thanks to some late-game heroics, the DBU Patriot Baseball team completed their second consecutive comeback win, a 5-4 decision over visiting University of Pennsylvania, Friday night at Horner Ballpark. With the Patriots trailing in the bottom of the ninth inning and two outs, Justin Wall singled up the middle, scoring a pair of Patriot runs and completing the come-from-behind, walk-off win.
 
With the victory DBU moves to 7-2 on the young season. Friday's contest was the season opener for Penn, who moves to 0-1. These two clubs play three more times this weekend, a pair of games, Saturday, followed by a single contest Sunday. The Saturday doubleheader is planned for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., with Sunday's matchup slated for 1 p.m.
 
Following a scoreless first two innings, Mitch Montaldo opened the scoring for Penn, drilling a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Quakers a 1-0 lead. The Patriots countered with a run in the bottom of the frame, as Camden Duzenack scored on a Mike Wesolowski sacrifice fly. Duzenack reached on an infield single, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Penn catcher Austin Bossart.
 
Penn immediately took the lead back, scoring in both the fourth and fifth innings, running their lead to 3-1 at the halfway point in the contest. DBU threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but a strikeout and line shot right at Montaldo at third base ended the rally, with the scoring remaining 3-1.
 
The Quakers added an insurance run in the eighth, as Marshall Harden took a Philip Orr pitch over the left field wall, tacking on the two-out run to extend the lead to 4-1. Not to be outdone, Austin Listi launched a long ball for DBU in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Wesolowski to cut the deficit to 4-3.
 
Brandon Koch came on to work the top of the ninth on the mound for the Patriots, keeping the deficit at one by striking out the side. In the bottom half, with the bases loaded, Wall knocked his single up the middle, scoring David Martinelli and Austin Listi to complete the comeback win.
 
"I'm a huge believer in confidence," said DBU Head Coach Dan Heefner. "That's everything in baseball, and every time you get a comeback win like this, it gives your guys confidence. When they get down later on, they know that they can come back."
 
Paul Voelker started and got no decision for DBU, allowing three runs on seven hits in seven innings. The junior struck out a career-high nine batters. Brandon Koch moves to 1-0 on the season after his perfect inning of relief in the ninth.
 
"You have to tip your hat to Penn," added the DBU skipper. "They came ready to play, had a great approach against Paul (Voelker), but he battled the whole night. Then Brandon (Koch) came in and gave us a shot in the arm there at the end."
 
Listi led the way for DBU with three hits, including the home run, two RBI, and two runs scored, including the game winner. Wall added a pair of hits in the Patriots' eight hit attack, with Wesolowski knocking in one and scoring one with a hit and a sacrifice fly.
 
For Penn, Rick Brebner led the way with three of the Quakers' nine hits, scoring one run. Montaldo added a pair of hits, scoring once and knocking in a run on the solo home run. Jeff McGarry added two hits and one RBI. Mitch Holtz takes the loss after one inning of work, allowing the tying and winning runs. The sophomore walked two and struck out one.