MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Carlos Irizarry's electric grand slam punctuated an eight-run seventh inning that proved the difference in No. 14/16 Penn State Harrisburg's 8-5 come-from-behind victory over Messiah on Wednesday afternoon, March 26.


The Lions (15-3-1) managed just five hits but a patient approach at the plate led to 11 walks. Irizarry homered and drove in four runs, while eight different Penn State Harrisburg players scored runs. Christan Lubic II turned in an excellent start, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks. He also struck five batters in six innings of work.


Messiah (11-9) used a lead-off walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The home team loaded the bases with two away in the bottom half but couldn't push the tying run across and a pitcher's duel ensued for the next five innings, as Lubic and Messiah starter Sawyer Shepherd proved stingy until both exited in the late frames.


The script flipped in the seventh, however, when the Falcons took advantage of an inning-opening error and padded their lead thanks to a two-out, bases-loaded home run from Dylan Beard that stretched the advantage to 5-0 through six and a half.


After recording just two hits in the first six frames, Penn State Harrisburg got the jolt it needed when Moises Gonzalez roped a solo home run over the fence in left field to begin the bottom of the seventh. Lucas Floyd followed with single, Drew Sassaman reached on an error and Blaine Waltimyer, Brendan Henn and Demetre Koutras III worked back-to-back-to-back walks and suddenly the deficit was a more manageable two runs.


A pitching change ensued before Alexander Ruiz drove in Waltimyer with a sac fly to right field and Matthew Johansen walked to load them up for Irizarry. After taking the initial pitch for a called strike, Irizarry put his team out in front for the first time with a mighty swing that resulted in a monstrous grand slam that sailed over the left field fence.


Suddenly facing a three-run deficit, Messiah tried to respond in the top of the eighth, moving a pair of runners into scoring position but reliever Sam Thompson fanned a pair of Falcons to end the threat, including a strikeout of David Martinez to close out the inning and preserve the 8-5 lead.


An error allowed a baserunner to reach for the visitors in the ninth but Bradyn Eckert shut things down with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to secure the save and seal another comeback win for the Lions.


NOTABLES
- Irizarry provided the game's pivotal swing with his grand slam. He also finished with a walk, four RBIs and a run scored. His home run was his third of the spring.
- Gonzalez hit his second home run of the season.
- Waltimyer, Henn, Koutras and Johansen each walked twice.
- Sassaman, walked, scored a run and had the team's lone stolen base.
- Lubic allowed just one run and struck out five in six innings thrown.
- Traeton Sauder earned the first win of his young career.
- Thompson struck out two and stranded a pair in scoring position in his lone inning of work.
- Eckert picked up his first career save, striking out two without allowing a hit or walk.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to conference play when they host United East foe Cairn for doubleheader action on Saturday 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.