WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A sixth-run fifth inning in the first game of Saturday, March 18's MAC Freedom doubleheader with DeSales University helped propel the Lycoming College baseball team to a 9-5 win in its first home game in 52 years at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. DeSales was able to hold on for an 8-4 win in the second game.
 
Down 5-0 heading into the fourth inning of the first game, the Warrior rally started when first-year Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J./Brick Townshipp) led off with a walk, setting up a triple off the base of the left field wall from sophomore Jake Schilling (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury). First-year Kai Foster (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) walked and a sac fly by first-year Zachary Pleska (Salem, Ohio/Columbiana) drove in Schilling. A throwing error on a fielder's choice was followed by a single from first-year Zach Kudlacik (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) and a fielder's choice brought Foster in, cutting the lead to 5-3.
 
In the fifth inning, first-year Greg Wirin (Interlaken, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) led off with a single before a fielder's choice allowed Hoheb to reach. Schilling walked and after a lineout, the Warriors got the next six batters to reach base with two outs. Pleska walked to load the bases, first-year Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Wilkes-Barre Area) tied the game with a single into right center. After he stole second, Kudlacik walked to reload the bases. An error helped Lycoming take the lead before junior Braden Campbell (Centerville, Utah/Cooper Hills) walked to drive in Bottger, setting up a two-RBI single into center field from Wirin.
 
DeSales loaded the bases in the sixth, but first-year Jake Wilber (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) responded with a flyout and groundout to end the inning. In the seventh, first-year Evan Nordeen (Leesburg, Va./Loudon County) struck out the side, giving Lycoming its first home win since a 12-2 win over Juniata on April 24, 1971.
 
Wirin finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Schilling went 2-for-2 with two runs, a double, a triple and a RBI to pace the offense.
 
Carson Allison led DeSales, going 3-for-3.
 
Wilber (1-2) earned the win with three innings of scoreless relief, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out one. Will Manley (0-1) took the loss, allowing two hits, three walks and four unearned runs in 1/3 inning of relief.
 
The Warriors again rallied in the second game from a 5-0 deficit, scoring all four of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings of an 8-4 setback.
 
Down 5-0, the Warriors got to work in the fourth inning, as Campbell and Wirin singled, setting up a double to the gap from Hoheb that drove in two. Schilling followed with another double to right center, but DeSales ended the rally with three strikeouts.
 
Down 6-3 in the fifth, the Warriors went back to work as Kudlacik singled to lead off before Reeder and Campbell walked to load the bases. A double play and a groundout ended the rally though. Lycoming's offense kept threatening, though, with four runners reaching base in the last two innings, but DeSales was able to end the rally each time.
 
Mike Romano (3-0) earned the win for the Bulldogs, allowing a hit and striking out three in three scoreless innings of relief. Pleska took the loss (0-1) , allowing three hits, four walks and three earned runs in two innings. He struck out two.
 
Eight different Warriors had hits in the game, with Hoheb leading the team with two RBI.
 
Allison went 2-for-4 in the game with a run and Billy Scanlon finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI to lead DeSales. Travis Kerr also went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Tuesday, March 21, when they face Penn College in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Bowman Field. The Warriors will serve as the road team in the two seven-inning games.