Lions Power Past Norwich For Twin Bill Sweep

VERO BEACH, Fla. – The Penn State Brandywine baseball team recorded 26 runs on 26 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep of Norwich (Vt.) on Sunday afternoon in Vero Beach, Fla. Brandywine routed the Cadets 15-3 during game one and rallied from four runs down during the nightcap, claiming game two by an 11-5 count.

Brandywine grabbed a 2-0 lead during the top of the first inning of the opener behind two-out, RBI hits from Tom Osenbach (Newtown Square, Pa./West Chester Christian) and Dan McMenamin (Springfield, Pa./Springfield).

Evan Cline (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) worked a bases-loaded walk to add Brandywine's third run and Chris Keenan (Chester, Pa./Strath Haven) pushed a fourth across with a second-inning groundout.

Norwich plated three-straight runs to pull within one, but the Lions answered with a trio of scores in the fifth. Chris Skahill (Media, Pa./Penncrest) delivered a bases-loaded single to right-center field, scoring two, and Nick Horan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) followed with a base hit that plated Steve Trainor (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara).

The Lions pulled away in the sixth as consecutive hits from John Gorgone (Ridley, Pa./Ridley), Skahill and Horan pushed across five additional runs.

Skahill collected three hits, three runs batted in and crossed home twice, while Horan and Gorgone both drove in three. Horan reached base in four-of-five plate appearances with two hits and a pair of bases on balls.

McMenamin and Osenbach added two hits each. Osenbach scored three runs and McMenamin and Keenan both came around to score twice.

Brian Bosco (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) earned the victory on the mound as he pitched six innings, striking out four. Two of the three runs he allowed were unearned.

Billy Whaley surrended 7 runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss for Norwich, while Tim Dargan collected three RBI.

Norwich scored during each of the first four innings of game two, grabbing a 5-1 lead, but Brandywine pushed across 10 runs during its final three at-bats to earn the victory.

Gabe Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) provided an RBI single and Osenbach followed with a two-run double during a four-run fourth inning that tied the score at 5-5. Brandywine took the lead in the fifth when Skahill raced to third after Tommy Crumlish (Upper Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) singled and scored on a Cadet throwing error.

Skahill provided the big blow as Brandywine poured on five insurance runs during the sixth inning, lacing an inside-the-park grand slam to deep left-center field.

Osenbach led Brandywine's 13-hit attack during game two with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate and three RBI. Skahill knocked in four runs and scored twice, while Crumlish, Encarnacion and John McGarvey (Wilmington, Del./Concord) all tallied two hits.

Andrew Karahalis (Ridley, Pa./Ridley) tossed a complete game to earn his first victory. He fanned a pair and retired eight of the final 10 batters he faced, while allowing four earned runs.

Brandywine faces Rochester College Monday night at 7:00 pm.