MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - No. 14/16 Penn State Harrisburg unleashed an offensive barrage that included 20 hits and cruised to an 18-12 non-conference victory over No. 11/11 Rowan on Sunday afternoon, March 30.
Carlos Irizarry turned in one of the best performances of his career, finishing a triple shy of the cycle with a five hits, six RBIs and two runs scored. Demetre Koutras III had three hits and scored four runs, while Alexander Ruiz also had a three-hit day. Brendan Henn tallied three RBIs and three runs, Blaine Waltimyer drove in four runs and Drew Sassaman, Matthew Johansen and Coy Baker each had multi-hit games.
On the bump, Bradyn Eckert earned the win after throwing five innings, giving up just four hits without surrendering an earned run and striking out five. Danny Eden threw three innings of relief, allowing just four baserunners with six strikeouts.
A two-out error allowed Rowan (14-5) to score the game's opening run in the top of the first but Irizarry inflicted his first bit of damage in the bottom half, lacing a two-out double down the left field line that plated Henn and Koutras and gave the Lions (17-4-1) their first lead of the day.
Another error allowed the Profs to pull even in the top of the second but the home team answered back for the second straight time when Waltimyer's two-out single to center field scored Baker and put Penn State Harrisburg back in front. Ruiz doubled the advantage with another two-out base knock in the third, this time a single through the right side that pushed Koutras across.
The flood gates opened in the bottom of the fourth when the Lions used five hits, two walks and a hit by pitch to score eight six runs and stretch the advantage to a more comfortable 10-2 through four. Henn got the action started with a bases-clearing triple to right center and Koutras brought him in with a single to left field. Irizarry capped the frame with a two-run shot to straightaway center. The blast was his third in the last four games.
Rowan got one back in the fifth and used a three-run homer to pull to within 10-6 in the top of the seventh. Penn State Harrisburg responded with its largest crooked number of the day in the bottom half, however, essentially putting things out of reach for good. Irizarry got it going again with a single up the middle that plated Sassaman and Henn, while Waltimyer came through with a bases-loaded double to left center.
The Profs fought to the end, putting together a two-out rally that resulted in six runs in the top of the eighth but it proved too little late.
NOTABLES
- The win over Rowan was Penn State Harrisburg's second over a nationally-ranked opponent this spring.
- Irizarry was impossible to get out, finishing 5-for-5 with a home run, a double, six RBIS and two runs scored.
- Koutras was 3-for-5 with a walk, four runs scored and an RBI.
- Ruiz went 3-for-5, driving in one run and scoring another.
- Waltimyer hit his 14th double of the season, drove in four runs and scored two more.
- Sassaman, Baker and Johansen each had two-hit games.
- Henn tripled, walked twice, scored three runs and drove in three more.
- Eckert got the start and the win, going five innings without allowing an earned run and striking out five Profs.
- Eden threw three innings of relief and racked up six strikeouts.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions host Susquehanna for another key non-conference matchup on Tuesday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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