Arcadia needed offense Wednesday afternoon. It got plenty of it.
The Knights broke out in a big way at Skip Wilson Field, sweeping Keene State, 11-7 and 14-12, in a non-conference doubleheader that featured crooked numbers, late swings, and a historic individual performance.
Arcadia improved to 6-6 on the season with the two wins, showing an ability to respond in both games after early deficits.
The opener turned in the fourth inning, when Arcadia sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine times to seize control. After drawing bases-loaded walks in the first from Solomon Abdullah and Peter Trendafilov, the Knights briefly fell behind when Keene State pushed across three runs in the second.
But the fourth inning flipped the game. Kevin Wheeler, Max Oswald, Trendafilov, Eric Shandler, and Ryan Radigan all delivered run-scoring hits in the frame, turning a one-run deficit into a comfortable lead.
Keene State added four runs over the final two innings, but Arcadia’s bullpen held firm. Gavin Kincs earned his third win of the season, tossing three shutout innings in relief. He allowed just one hit, did not issue a walk, and struck out one.
Taro Pustilnik led the offense in Game 1 with two hits and two runs scored, while Oswald drove in three.
If the first game belonged to Arcadia’s lineup depth, the nightcap became a showcase for Pustilnik.
The junior put together one of the most prolific single-game performances in program history, going 5-for-5 and becoming just the 12th player in Arcadia history to record five hits in a game.
Game 2 unfolded as a back-and-forth slugfest. Keene State jumped out early with a three-run homer in the first, only to see Arcadia answer with five runs of its own in the bottom half. The Owls then surged ahead, scoring in four consecutive innings — including a six-run third — to build a 12-5 advantage.
Arcadia’s response came quickly and emphatically.
The Knights erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, highlighted by Thomas Strauch’s three-run homer to left field. From there, the game settled briefly before Pustilnik delivered the decisive swing.
Leading off the seventh, he launched a solo home run to right field to give Arcadia a 13-12 lead. An inning later, he added insurance when his pop fly into the sun was lost by Keene State’s infield, allowing Strauch to score.
Jadon Dormer secured the win with three scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits without a walk while striking out two.
Strauch finished with three runs scored and four RBIs in the second game, while Jake Keirstead reached base twice via walk.
For Arcadia, the sweep offered more than just two wins. It was a reminder of the lineup’s potential when it strings together quality at-bats — and of the kind of impact one player can have on a day when everything clicks.
The Knights return to action Friday with a road trip to Lebanon Valley for a 3:30 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom game.
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