Video of Roehler's game-winning single (from Kathleen Egan)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Eagle newcomer Jonathan Roehler delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Edgewood College baseball team a 5-4 extra-inning, walk-off victory over the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford on Tuesday. In the day's opening game, the Panthers downed the Eagles in a 13-10 slugfest.
In the second game, the Eagles quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Danny Appino walked and eventually scored a double play ground ball. Later, Jonathan Roehler scored on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Edgewood College (3-2) added another run via a wild pitch in the second inning, when Brodie Engel scored from third after initially reaching on an error. Pittsburgh-Bradford (3-5) cut the Eagles lead back to 3-2 on an RBI single from Austin Parent in the top of the third inning.
The game was locked at 3-2 all the way until the seventh, when the Panthers scored on an Eagle error and an RBI single from Jay Clinger to take a 4-3 lead. However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Roehler led off with an opposite field single and moved to second on an Andrew Lauritzen sacrifice bunt. Roehler and pinch-runner Bryan Sternig then pulled off a perfect double steal to put runners on second and third with just one out. Jacob Yellovich stepped up to tie the game by lifting a sacrifice fly to right field, but the winning run ended up stranded at third base, sending the game to extra innings.
Edgewood College overcame an error to set down the Panthers in the eighth inning, setting the stage for Roehler's heroics. Nik Visone was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Ryan Cassady came in to run for him. Cassady stole second base to get into scoring position, but the next two Eagles were retired. Finally, Roehler delivered a hard ground ball, just past a diving Patrick James at first base, to bring Cassady around with the winning run.
Roehler went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base to lead the Eagles offensive attack. Appino had a hit, a run scored and reached base twice. Edgewood College stole five bases off the Panters battery. Edgewood College rode a strong pitching performance from Blake Bieri. After giving up a first inning run, Bieri went five more innings, allowing no earned runs. He struck out two batters and allowed just five hits, but settled for a no decision. Bryce Lashley picked up the win after relieving AJ Verhage in the seventh inning.
In Tuesday's opening game, Edgewood College fell behind in the first inning for the third time in four games. The Panthers scored two runs on Eagle wild pitches and another two on RBI singles by Timothy Brown and Kevin Sompel for a quick 4-0 lead. The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the second, but couldn't plate a run until the third inning. Nick Lehner continued his hot start to the season with a home run to right field to score Roehler who had singled. Jeff Tucker added an RBI single later in the inning to bring home Jacob Yellovich.
The Eagles added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford put the game out of reach with a six-run fifth inning. Jean Turber delivered the big blow for the Panthers with a grand slam home run, for a 13-5 lead.
Edgewood College didn't go down quietly, however. Paul Cappetta drove in two runs with a bases loaded single in the sixth inning and Tucker came through once again with an RBI single to cut the Panthers lead to 13-8. In the top of the seventh, Garrett Bogucki drove in two runs to bring the tying run to the plate at 13-10, but the Eagles would get no closer.
Lehner, Tucker and Brodie Engel all finished with three hits apiece, including Lehner's second home run in as many days. Tucker drove in a career-high three runs with his three singles. Roehler, Yellovich and Bogucki all had two hits apiece, with Bogucki recording two RBIs. On the mound for the Eagles, Bridger Berrett suffered the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing five earned runs. Five other pitchers finished the game for the Eagles, most notably Adam Eck who threw a hitless bottom of the sixth inning.
 Edgewood College will take tomorrow off before returning to action against Plymouth State University on Thursday morning. The Eagles have five games remaining on their season opening trip.
