MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – A trio of home runs aided a Shenandoah squad receiving votes in the national rankings in an 11-4 win over No. 12/13 Penn State Harrisburg on Monday afternoon, April 14.
Alexander Ruiz and
Demetre Koutras III each had multi-hit games, while
Blaine Waltimyer homered and drove in a pair of runs. Missed opportunities plagued the Lions (23-7-1), however, as they twice left the bases loaded and scored just one run in those instances.
The Hornets (21-12) struck first in the top of the opening frame, using a leadoff triple, two singles and a sacrifice fly to jump out to a 3-0 advantage. Waltimyer got the home team right back in it by taking the first pitch he saw yard in the bottom half. Koutras singled and Ruiz followed it with a double to left center.
Carlos Irizarry drove in Koutras with a sac fly to center field and cut the deficit to 3-2 after one.
Shenandoah took advantage of a two-out hit by pitch in the second when the ensuing batter homered to push the lead back to three. From there, the Penn State Harrisburg bats went silent, as the Lions were held hitless for the next four frames.
By the time the home team got going again, the SU lead had stretched to 8-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Ruiz and Irizarry each singled before
Moises Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two away,
Lucas Floyd roped a liner into right field but the play was made to end the threat.
After the third Shenandoah home run of the day ballooned the lead to 11-3, the Lions again had a chance to do damage in the eighth. With the bases loaded and one away, Waltimyer was hit by a pitch, driving in a run in the process but that was all the scoring the home team would muster.
NOTABLES
- Shenandoah did most of its damage with three multi-run home runs.
- Ruiz was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- Koutras went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Waltimyer hit the ball hard three times, finishing with a home run, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.
-
Benjamin Ross threw 2.1 innings of relief and did not allow an earned run.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to conference play when they host United East rival Keystone on Wednesday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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@pshbgathletics.