The Red Devils split a pair of 6-1 games this past week to head into Spring Break play with a record of 5 and 2.  The only losses were a 5-3 decision to Messiah off a late three-run homer and to #9 ranked Shenandoah University.

The Red Devils began this past weekend by defeating Penn State-Harrisburg 6 to 1 in Carlisle at MacPhail Field.  The team capitalized on the Lions’ mistakes, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second off of two errors.  The inning began as Phil Werner ’16 doubled and then moved to third on a passed ball.  He was brought in by a single from Ben Carter ’19.

Rick Hopkins ’17 reached on an error, putting Carter at second in scoring position. Brian McCloud ’16 moved Carter to third on a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners.  Both runners were drove in by Matt Primavera who reached on an error, increasing the Dickinson lead to 3-0.

The Red Devils added another in the third as they continued to pounce on the Lions’ mistakes. After reaching  on an error, Jonathan Chudacoff ’18 scored thanks to another Carter RBI single. Dickinson had taken a commanding 4-0 lead.

After a quick two outs in the fifth, the Red Devils rallied to cushion their lead. Phil Werner started it off again as he ripped another double to left-center.  Carter singled again to put runner’s on the corners for Alex Jacobson ’19. The first year delivered with men on, slashing a double down right field and scoring both runners. Dickinson was in cruise control at this point, up 6-0.

The Lions added one in the eighth to produce the final of 6-1.  First-year Ben Rappaport ’19 got the win for the Devils.  He pitched five scoreless while giving up just two hits.  Ben Woodard ’19, Tyler Clauson-Wolf ’16 and Alex Gusikoff ’18 finished the game for Rappaport.

On Monday, the Devils looked to capture their sixth win in seven tries as they traveled down to Shenandoah University for a stern test against the #9-ranked Hornets.  Despite a solid effort, they were handed a 6-1 loss.  After scoring in the first, Shenandoah added four more in the third to go ahead 5-0.  Leading 6-0 in the top of the sixth, the Hornets afforded the Devils their lone run on the evening.  The run came off the bat of Matt Primavera ’16 who drove in Ryan Dolan after he was moved to third by a single from first-year Stephen Sakowicz.  Although the score was one-sided, the Red Devils tied the Hornets with seven hits and had one less error than the home team.

In the early going the Red Devils have fared well. The pair of loses in their record stem from a close game against Messiah that was decided by a late homer, and a very tough road test at Shenandoah. Carter has shined at the plate in the early season, batting .438 with 5 RBI in seven games.  Primavera has 6 RBIs in the early going to lead the team. Cristian Acosta ’17 has been sensational on the mound. In two appearances over ten innings Acosta is yet to surrender an earned run, giving up only four hits over the two frames.

Baseball will be back in action on Saturday, Mar. 12 in Lake Myrtle Park, Florida as they take on Westfield State in a double-header.