MONTCLAIR, N.J. - For the third time this season, No. 13 Penn State Harrisburg emerged victorious in extra innings, using a bases-loaded wild pitch to walk off MIT in a 7-6, 11-inning thriller at Yogi Berra Stadium on the campus of Montclair State on Saturday afternoon, March 15.
Demetre Koutras III had three hits, including a pair of doubles, drove in a pair of runs and scored two more. Blaine Waltimyer drove in two runs, while Carlos Irizarry had a multi-hit day and walked twice. Aidan Bergholc turned in a quality start, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out seven in 4.1 innings of work. Danny Eden earned the win, throwing the final 2.2 frames, allowing just one baserunner and tallying three strikeouts.
MIT (2-7) took an early 1-0 lead but after Bergholc racked up three strikeouts in the top of the second, the Lions (11-2) pulled even in the bottom half when Lucas Floyd worked a bases-loaded walk that plated Koutras.
A pitcher's duel ensued for the next three innings, with neither team tacking on any runs until the top of the sixth when the Engineers used three hits and a sacrifice bunt to score two and reclaim the lead at 3-1 through five and a half.
Penn State Harrisburg finally broke through with a crooked number in the bottom of the seventh, plating five runs on three hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. Drew Sassaman was hit by an errant pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Tim Haftl in the process. Waltimyer followed it up by driving in Floyd and and Brendan Henn with a single to right field. Koutras added two more runs when he doubled to center field, clearing the bases and scoring Sassaman and Waltimyer to make it 6-3 after seven.
MIT got one back in the eighth but did the most damage in the top of the ninth, scoring a pair of runs with two outs to tie things up at 6-6. Eden elicited a ground ball that ended with a 1-6-3 double play to end any further threat.
After the Lions were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, Eden retired the Engineers in order in the top of the 10th. Penn State Harrisburg left them loaded in the bottom half but Eden put together his second straight 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 11th. Koutras doubled with one away in the bottom half and two consecutive walks loaded the bases for Coy Schwanger. Before Schwanger could do damage with his bat, a wild pitch squirted away from the MIT catcher, allowing Koutras to break from third and score the winning run.
NOTABLES
- Saturday's contest was Penn State Harrisburg's third extra-inning game of the season. The Lions improved to 3-0 in such games this spring.
- Koutras finished 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
- Irizarry went 2-for-5 with two walks.
- Waltimyer drove in a pair of runs.
- Floyd tallied two walks, one run and an RBI.
- Bergholc threw 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on two hits to go along with seven strikeouts.
- Eden was excellent in relief, throwing the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out three batters to earn the win.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions face the hosts from Montclair State in the final game of the MSU Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.
