LANCASTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team picked up two more victories over Lancaster Bible at Millersville's Cooper Park on a blustery Saturday afternoon to secure a three-game series sweep of its conference rival. The Lions held on for a tightly-contested 2-1 win in the opener before creating more separation in a 12-5 victory in the finale. 

GAME 1

In a game that included just six total hits, Drew Bechtold provided just enough offense for Penn State Harrisburg (21-7, 8-0 United East) to come away with a one-run victory in Saturday's first outing. 

Lucas Floyd walked with two outs in the second, advanced to second base on a failed pick off, and moved over to third on a balk. Bechtold made sure to bring him across with a two-run bomb that gave the visitors the early lead. 

From there a pitcher's duel broke out, as Kyle Mahady and LBC's Andrew Workman were stingy on the mound, allowing just two base runners apiece across the ensuing two innings. The Chargers (15-11-1, 7-6-1 United East) eventually got on the board when a double steal allowed a runner to come home from third after an error on a throw down to second base. 

Mahady exited in the fifth and Josh Berzonski came on in relief, turning in another dazzling performance during his stellar 2024 campaign. After Dylan Witkowski ended the fifth by being thrown out attempting to steal third, Berzonski faced six batters and retired them all to end the game, earn his third save of the season, and keep the Lions unbeaten in conference play.

GAME 2

After being held in check for much of game one, the Penn State Harrisburg bats finally came to life in the finale. The Lions (22-7, 9-0 United East) tallied 16 hits, including six extra-base knocks, while Fisher Druck surrendered just two earned runs to earn the win.

The visitors put up three runs on five hits in the top of the first, including a sac fly from Kevin Lehner, an RBI double from Carlos Irizarry, and an RBI single from Lucas Floyd. Lehner and Irizarry used back-to-back RBI singles to tack on two more with two away in the top of the second. 

In the third, a wild pitch allowed Braeden Piotrowski to come across before Irizarry drove in another run with an RBI triple in the fourth. A Floyd RBI groundout in the same stanza plated Irizarry to give the Lions a comfortable 8-2 advantage after four.

Lancaster Bible (15-12-1, 7-7-1 United East) cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth but the visitors answered back when Piotrowski's sac fly scored Irizarry in the top of the ensuing frame. Penn State Harrisburg put things out of reach in the top of the ninth, using RBI doubles from Floyd and Piotrowski, along with a balk to tack on four insurance runs and complete the Saturday sweep.

NOTABLES

- Bechtold's game-one home run was his second of the season and second in as many days. 

- Mahady picked up his fourth win of the season in the opener, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks. 

- Berzonski earned his third save of the spring, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner.

- Irizarry went 3-for-3 and finished a home run shy of the cycle with three walks, three RBI, and four runs scored in game two.

- Floyd also had a three-hit second game with a double and three RBI.

- Lehner was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the final outing. 

- Dallas Hite and Josh Lantz had multi-hit second games, while Brendan Henn plated twice in the nightcap. 

- Druck improved to 4-1 on the spring, allowing just two earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts in Saturday's finale.

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions host Lebanon Valley for another crucial non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon. 

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.