Beaver drops tough battle to ONU

Vero Beach, FL -- Beaver drops their evening game at Holman Stadium to ONU.

Facing Olivet Nararene University in a 9 inning night game, Beaver looked to end their losing streak.  After giving up a quick run in the top of the first, Beaver answered in their first at bat.  Ty Cole (Carmichaels, PA / Carmichaels) led off the game with a double and was advanced to third on a Blaise McCarty (Beaver Falls, PA / Riverside) sacrifice bunt.  With just one out in the inning, Jake Debo (New Brighton, PA / New Brighton) stepped to the plate and hit an RBI single to put Beaver on the board.  Batting clean-up, Nick Casasanta (Moon Twp, PA / Moon) drew the walk and both he and Debo advanced as the ONU pitcher was charged with the balk.  Senior, Jordan Price (Conway, PA / Freedom) then grounded out to second base, but it was enough to allow Debo score and give the Lions a 2-1 lead.

In the second and third innings ONU added two runs a piece, re-taking the lead by a score of 5-2.  After a scoreless fourth inning, Beaver held the Tigers scoreless in the top of the 5th and then in the bottom of the inning got the bats going again.  With one out, it was Cole again who got things going with a triple.  After a fly out by McCarty, things looked bleak for Beaver putting runs on the board in the inning, but senior, Nick Casasanta (Moon Twp, PA / Moon), who has been a jack of all trades so far this week, hit an RBI double scoring Cole and advancing Onderko to third who pinch ran for Debo who reached safely on a walk in his at bat.  Price was hit by a pitch in his at bat, putting runners on the corners for Justyn Francona (New Brighton, PA / New Brighton).  Francona took advantage of the situation and singled for an RBI.  Matt Capo (Moon Township, PA / Moon) kept the momentum rolling, reaching safely on an error by the short stop followed by Zach Ulrich (Seabrook, Texas / Clearfalls) who doubled to cap off a 5-run inning by Beaver.  

With a 7-5 lead, things looked to be going well for the Lions, but a lack in pitching depth eventually caught up with them as ONU scored ten runs in their final three at bats (4,2,4) to re-take the lead for the second time in the game.  After a complete nine innings, despite having the last at bat as the home team in the contest, Beaver wasn't able to edge back into the game and fell by a final score of 15-7 to the tough NAIA opponent.  

Offensively, Beaver was led by Cole who went 3 for 5, Francona who went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Ulrich who went 1 for 2 with 2 RBI's.  

The Lions will return to action tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. when they take on Hagerstown Community College in a JV game followed by a non-conference match-up with conference rival Penn State Brandywine at 1:00 p.m.