LA PLUME, Pa. - A 15-game win streak for Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team came to an end with a pair of losses at Keystone in the United East Championship Series on Saturday afternoon, May 11. The Lions were edged 5-4 in the opener before dropping a 8-3 decision in game two.

GAME 1

Despite a late rally, Penn State Harrisburg (34-8) was unable to come up with a timely hit in a pivotal moment after falling into a 5-0 hole to begin the ballgame. The Lions outhit the Giants (32-11) 10-7 but could not take advantage of potential scoring opportunities, leaving 17 runners on base. 

Keystone struck first with a pair of runs in the third before tacking on three more in the bottom of the fourth. Penn State Harrisburg finally got something going in the top of the sixth, using back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Brendan Henn and Drew Sassaman to cut the deficit to 5-2. 

The visitors kept chipping away thanks to a Dallas Hite pinch-hit RBI single that plated Demetre Koutras III in the top of the seventh and a Koutras ground ball that allowed Carlos Irizarry to score from third on an error in the eighth. 

Penn State Harrisburg loaded the bases with one away in the top of the ninth but a sterling defensive play by the Keystone second baseman robbed Irizarry of a go-ahead RBI single and sealed the win for the home team.

GAME 2

For the second straight game, Penn State Harrisburg (34-9) struggled to get going at the plate, leaving nine runners on base, while committing five errors in the field. 

The Giants (33-11) set the tone for the second consecutive outing, putting up four runs on five hits in the top of the second. The Lions got one back in the bottom of the third thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice bunt from Drew Sassaman that plated Bill Zentmayer but the visitors were unable to do any more damage. 

Keystone used two doubles and an error to score two more runs in the fifth before pushing the advantage to six in the top of the eighth. The visitors made it 7-2 when Kevin Lehner's sac fly drove in Sassaman in the bottom half but the Giants tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth.

Drew Bechtold drove in a final run in the bottom of the final stanza and the Lions loaded the bases but were unable to push any more across. 

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg's 15-game win streak was halted with the game one loss. 

- The Lions left 17 on base in the opener. 

- Henn, Irizarry, Kevin Lehner, and Blaine Waltimyer had multi-hit first outings. 

- Sam Thompson threw two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three in the opener.

- Reliever Dallas Gilbert allowed just one hit in the final two frames of game one.

- Sassaman went 4-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the second contest.

- Bechtold finished 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions will hope to hear their name called as an at-large selection for the regional round of NCAA Tournament beginning next weekend. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Monday at 12 p.m.

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.