ESSEX, Md. - The Notre Dame of Maryland baseball team split a doubleheader against United East rivals PSU-Brandywine, losing game one 6-3 and winning game two 4-1.
Game One- Notre Dame of Maryland 3 - PSU-Brandywine 6
The Gators struck first in the opening inning.
Zane Cook delivered an RBI single to give Notre Dame the early lead.
The Nittany Lions answered in the top half of the second inning with a run of their own, evening the score 1-1.
Ben Boyer launched a two-run home run to create a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Over the next several innings, the Nittany Lions erased the 3-1 deficit and took the lead 6-3. The Gators tried to rally late in the ninth inning, but could not close the gap, ultimately falling short as the Nittany Lions secured the win.
Chase Cichocki and Cook led the Gators in offense with two hits each. Boyer added one hit and two RBIs.
AJ Williams took the loss on the mound, pitching six innings, allowing seven hits with five strikeouts.
Matthew Murdock and
Rhys Eder came in relief for the remaining innings.
Game Two- Notre Dame of Maryland 4 - PSU-Brandywine 1
The Gators and the Nittany Lions struggled to produce any offense in the first two innings of the match.
Hunter Beil broke through with a double to left field to drive in a run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 advantage.
A defensive miscue allowed the Nittany Lions to score one run in the top of the fourth inning.
The eighth inning was the Gators biggest spark at the plate. Two singles in a row came before an important double by Beil to drive across two runs to break the tie. Two batters later, Boyer singled to drive in the final run of the game, resulting in a 4-1 Gators win.
The Gators were led by Beil who delivered a 2-for-4, three RBI, and one run performance.
Brennan Deremeik, and Boyer also had two hits each.
Donny White pitched a solid game with only five hits allowed and three strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Brendan Coulson came in relief and got the win, posting a one hit performance in two innings.
Brysen Keithley recorded the save with closing out the ninth inning.
The Gators travel to Rosemont Sunday Morning for a conference doubleheader.
