Plymouth Meeting, PA| The Rosemont Ravens took the short drive to Villanova Ballpark, taking on Penn State Brandywine in a United East Conference Matchup.
Carson Pence took the mound for the Ravens in Game One, as the Ravens eye their first conference win. Rosemont threatened in the top of the first, Joe Bentivegna walked with one out, stealing second as Caiden Spinelli walked with two outs. The Ravens were unable to drive them home as Brandywine forced soft contact on Isaac Bugman to end the frame. Pence walked his first batter on a 3-2 count, but settled in using his defense behind him, forcing three quick outs. This trend continued into the second as Pence’s first batter reached, but the Ravens defense continued to work, holding Brandywine scoreless through two.
Terrell Robinson led off the top of the third with a single up the middle, putting pressure on the Nittany Lions. Bentivegna singled down the left field line with one out, putting two on for Rosemont. They were unable to drive home the runners as Spinelli lined to first, ending the frame. Pence continued to work through the fourth, trusting his defense behind him to make the routine plays. In the bottom of the fifth, Pence walked three in the frame, but did not allow any runs as the game remained tied 0-0.
The Nittany Lions eventually got to Pence in the sixth as he allowed three singles early in the inning. Patrick McCallister came in for Rosemont to finish the inning as they trailed 0-3. The Ravens offense finally found some life in the eighth as Robinson, Masten, and Betivegna were all gifted free passes to first to load the bases with no outs. A soft double play by Brandywine diffused the threat from the Ravens as they escaped the jam with no runs allowed. Rosemont’s offense threatened again at the top of the ninth as Bugman led off with a single, followed by a walk from Tahj Wilson with no outs. Wilson was picked off at first, as Rosemont was unable to score, falling in game one 0-3.
Solomon Denmark got the start in game two for Rosemont as they set off on their final game at Villanova Ballpark. The Ravens offense got to work early in the first as Branon Peake doubled with two outs. Caiden Spinelli reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, scoring Peake and giving Rosemont an early advantage. The Nittany Lions responded in the bottom of the first, as Denmark was hit around, allowing five and bringing in Gisella Schiano to pitch. Schiano struck out one, but hit two batters, bringing in Larson Greenlee in the second with one out. Greenlee was able to limit the damage as Rosemont trailed 1-6 after two innings.
Rosemont’s offense woke up to start the third as Peake doubled, followed by a Spinelli single putting runners on the corners with no outs. Isaac Bugman ripped a double in left to score Peake, as Wilson kept the hit parade going to score Spinelli and put runners on the corners again with no outs. Brody Lykes loaded the bases with a single, but great defense by the Nittany Lions held the Ravens to three in the frame as they cut into the deficit (4-6). Defense was a problem for the Ravens in the third as errors allowed two runs, as Penn State extended its lead. Masten and Peake stayed hot at the top of the fourth, but the Ravens were unable to score as they trailed by five runs after four innings of play.
Wilson led off the fifth inning with a single, moving around the bases on wild pitches from the Nittany Lions. He would score on a sacrifice fly from Robinson to cut the deficit back to four. Justin Gonzalez came in to pitch for Greenlee in the fifth as Brandywine scored one in the frame. Rosemont continued to fight, as Brandon Peake led off with a single to start the sixth. Spinelli followed with another single, as Bugman followed with a fielder’s choice, swapping him and Peake on base. Wilson drove home a run on a ground ball to second as they cut the deficit back to four.
Jimmy Rodier came in for the bottom of the sixth as Brandywine’s offense continued to punish the Ravens. They scored two more in the frame to extend their lead. In the top of the seventh, Robinson stayed hot, singling with one out, followed by another single from Masten. The Ravens would be stranded on base as they were 6-12. Alex Rausch came in for the Raven in the eighth, going one-two-three and holding the deficit to six. Rosemont was unable to answer in the top of the ninth as they dropped two games to Brandywine.
What’s Next?
The Ravens will be back at home on April 1st as they welcome Keystone College for Challenger Day at Heuser Park. First Pitch is set for 3:30 PM as the Ravens still eye their first conference win.
