FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Owls returned to the field Wednesday afternoon at the Lawnwood Complex and turned in one of their most complete performances of the spring break slate, defeating Lebanon Valley College by a score of 6-0. The victory came in game five of Kenyon's 13-game Florida trip and pushed the Owls to a 7-2 overall record, while the Flying Dutchmen fell to 2-4 on the season.
Lebanon Valley threatened early in the opening frame after a pair of singles put runners on base, but Kenyon's defense held firm. After recording two strikeouts, the Owls cut down the runner at home on a catcher-to-pitcher play to escape the inning scoreless.
Kenyon wasted little time taking control in the bottom half of the first. Junior Tyler Nee sparked the rally with a single and later scored when classmate Gio Giuliani lined an RBI single to left field. Giuliani then swiped second to keep pressure on the defense, and the Owls continued to build the inning with patience at the plate. First-year Colbie Corpuz drew a bases-loaded walk to plate another run before sophomore Trey Kent-Landrum delivered the biggest swing of the frame, ripping a two-RBI single to center that stretched the lead to 4-0.
The Owls added to their advantage in the fourth inning. First-year Aaron Moss worked a walk and moved into scoring position before senior Niko Price drilled a double to center field that brought Moss home, extending the Kenyon lead to five runs.
From there, the pitching staff took over. Lebanon Valley managed scattered baserunners through the middle innings, but Kenyon's bullpen consistently worked out of trouble to preserve the shutout.
The Owls tacked on its final run in the seventh inning. Nee reached with a single and advanced on a wild pitch before Giuliani moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Price followed with a sharp RBI single to center, scoring Nee and making it a 6-0 ballgame. The Owls threatened to add more after Otto McDill and Ben Resnick reached base, but Lebanon Valley escaped further damage.
The Owls finished the afternoon with nine hits, with Price and Nee each recording multi-hit performances. Price drove in two runs and scored once, while Giuliani and Kent-Landrum each added RBIs in the first inning. McDill and Resnick also contributed hits as the Owls consistently pressured the Flying Dutchmen defense.
KC's pitching staff delivered a dominant performance in the shutout victory. Junior Sam Howell got the start and worked three scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out five to set the tone early. Junior Peyton Hodges followed with six strong innings in relief, scattering three hits and striking out three. Hodges earned the win for the Owls with his steady middle-inning work, while Lebanon Valley starter Trey Dianna was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs in four innings of play.
Up next, the Owls will enjoy a day of rest before returning to the diamond Friday, March 6, for a doubleheader against Elizabethtown College. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 10 a.m.
