WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Junior designated hitter A.J. Llorente (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) went 4-for-5 with three runs and five RBI, one of six Lycoming College baseball players to finish with at least two hits, as Lycoming overcame a six-run deficit to blast past the defending SUNYAC champions, 17-13, in a slugfest to split a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 16, at Brandon Park. Lycoming fell in the first game, 11-3.
 
Senior first baseman Danny DeLucas (Whittier, Calif./La Serna) was 4-for-5 with three runs, two doubles and a RBI, sophomore Eric MacCluen (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) was 3-for-5 with three runs, junior catcher Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) was 2-for-2 with two runs, junior center fielder Nick Reeder (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) was 2-for-5 with three runs and first-year second baseman Kaden Shay (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) also went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI.
 
Lycoming tied the game with five runs in the fifth, with Llorente, MacCluen, junior left fielder Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Wilkes-Barre Area) and Kelly all singling to start the frame. Shay singled under the second baseman's glove to drive in two and make it 8-7 before DeLucas tied the game with a single later with two outs.
 
In the sixth, the Warriors took the lead when Llorente and MacCluen both walked. After a sacrifice from Bottger and a foul out, Hoheb delivered a two-RBI single through the left side. Lycoming added four more in the seventh, with two walks setting up an RBI single from Llorente before MacCluen singled up the middle through a drawn in infield before a throwing error allowed him to come all the way around to score to make it 14-8.
 
The Hawks scored four in their half of the eighth, but Lycoming responded with three in their half of the inning, as Reeder and DeLucas singled before junior third baseman Brody Lindsey (Monrovia, Md./DeMatha Catholic) was intentionally walked. A passed ball allowed Reeder to score before Llorente drove two in with a single.
 
Down 8-2 in the fourth inning, the Warriors rallied when junior shortstop Jack Kelly (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a single from Shay and scored on a two-out error that allowed DeLucas to reach.
 
Junior Rick Trapanese (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) (1-0) pitched three innings of shutout, one-hit relief to earn the win. Dylan Hayes (1-1) pitched 2/3 inning for the Hawks, allowing one hit, two walks and two runs in the loss.
 
Tommy Kreider was 4-for-6 with two runs and four RBI and Joe Richetti was 3-for-5 for the Hawks.
 
In the first game, both Llorente and sophomore left fielder MacCluen each had two hits to pace the team in an 11-3 setback.
 
The Warriors got on the board in the first inning Reeder singled to lead off, stole second and scored on a double to left center from Lindsey.
 
The defending SUNYAC champions scored three in the second, fourth and fifth and two in the sixth before Llorente led off the sixth with a double. Sophomore Sean Perkins (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) followed with a single and MacCluen drove in Llorente with a single up the middle.
 
In the seventh, the Warriors got their last run of the game, as first-year Jimmy Coppock (Collingdale, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) led off with a walk. After another walk and a hit batter, junior Kai Foster (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) drove in Coppock with a fielder's choice.
 
Tom Kreider led the Hawks, going 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, two runs and five RBI. Fabian Apicella was 3-for-4 with two runs, as the Hawks notched 14 hits in the game.
 
Senior Zac Zaller (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) (1-1) pitched four innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs. He walked one and struck out two. New Paltz's John McHugh (1-0) pitched four innings in the win, allowing five hits and a run. He walked one and struck out two.
 
The Warriors are back on the field on Saturday, March 22, when they head to Susquehanna University for a three-game Landmark Conference set, getting underway with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.