NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The late-game heroics continued for No. 19 Penn State Harrisburg, as Coy Schwanger's 400-foot RBI single to straightaway center field in the bottom of the ninth secured a 9-8 walk-off victory over Hartford at Christopher Newport's Captains Park on Sunday afternoon, March 9.
Carlos Irizarry, Blaine Waltimyer and Demetre Koutras III each had multi-hit games, with Waltimyer adding a double and Irizarry scoring two runs. Bradyn Eckert earned the second win of his young career after throwing two innings of relief, while Christian Lubic II struck out seven in his first start of the spring.
The Lions (9-1) bounded out to a 6-0 lead after two innings but Hartford (4-5) chipped away in the middle stanzas before pulling ahead 8-6 in the top of the eighth, only for Penn State Harrisburg to rally in the bottom of the ninth and finish 3-0 on the weekend at CNU.
The five-run first inning began with a double steal that saw Drew Sassaman swipe home before a Matthew Johansen RBI groundout plated Irizarry from third base. Back-to-back Hartford errors allowed Johansen and Waltimyer to score, while a two-out double by Lucas Floyd drove in Tim Haftl to make it 5-0 after one.
Lubic tallied three strikeouts in the top of the second and an Irizarry sacrifice fly drove in Alexander Ruiz in the bottom half to push the advantage to six runs.
The Hawks cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run before tacking on another in the top of the fifth. Hartford took advantage of five free bases in the top of the sixth and needed just two hits to score three runs and pull even for the first time.
Penn State Harrisburg was unable to cash in on a Waltimyer double in the bottom of the seventh and the Hawks pounced in the eighth, using a hit by pitch, a wild pitch and a walk to begin the frame before a two-out single gave them their first lead of the day.
After Eckert struck out a pair of Hartford batters in the top of the ninth, the Lions went to work in the bottom half, starting with an Irizarry lead-off single to center field. Koutras worked a walk and a wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position. Sam Merchant followed with another walk and another wild pitch scored Irizarry from third. After a Waltimyer walk loaded the bases, Haftl drove in the tying run with a sac fly to center field. Schwanger pinch hit and worked a full count, before answering the call with a line drive over the head of the centerfielder that scored Merchant to seal the gutsy win.
NOTABLES
- The Lions were clean in the field, while Hartford committed six errors.
- As a group, Penn State Harrisburg swiped five bags.
- Waltimyer was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a run scored and a stolen base.
- Irizarry finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
- Koutras went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
- Eckert threw the final two innings, allowing two hits and striking out four to earn the win.
- Lubic threw 4.2 innings, surrendering three runs on six hits to go along with seven strikeouts.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue non-conference play when they travel to York (Pa.) for a single game on Tuesday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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