The SVC baseball team erased an early four run deficit to record an 8-5 victory on the road against crosstown rival Pitt-Greensburg.
The Bearcats found themselves in an early hole, giving up 7 walks and an error in the bottom of the first inning, allowing the Bobcats to score four runs without a hit.
Greg Martin got Saint Vincent on the board with one swing in the top of the second, blasting his fifth home run of the season. The solo shot to right center made it a 4-1 game.
Reliever
Blaine Crawford gave up a run in the bottom of the second to increase the UPG lead to 5-1, but settled down after that and kept the hosts off the board.
Dylan Stark then threw a scoreless fifth inning for SVC.
The Bearcat bats came to life in the top of the sixth, as Martin and
Eddie Kilkeary both singled with one out.
Ramon Milke then cleared the bases with a double to cut the gap to two runs. After a balk moved Milke to third,
Nick Amatucci hit a sacrifice fly that scored the run to make the score 5-4.
After
Jacob Schott threw a perfect sixth inning,
Nick LaCava homered to lead off the top of the 7th to tie the game, 5-5.
In the top of the 8th, Martin doubled to lead off, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Kilkeary drew a walk then stole second, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Milke then sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a base hit, scoring both runners and giving the Bearcats their first lead of the day, 7-5. After Milke was erased on a fielder's choice that put Amatucci aboard at first, LaCava stroked a double that plated Amatucci to make it an 8-5 Saint Vincent lead.
Matt Whittaker (1-2) pitched a scoreless 7th, putting him in line for the win, then freshman
Luke Kelty tossed a scoreless eighth to hold the lead.
Luke Spisak came on to pitch the ninth inning, keeping the Bobcats off the board to secure his first save of the season.
Martin went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, while Milke was 2-3 with four runs batted in. LaCava also had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.
Tanner Yard went 2-3.
With the non-conference win, the Bearcats are now 10-11 overall on the season. The team is back in action on Wednesday (April 12) traveling to Grove City for a 9-inning conference matchup.
