EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. - No. 19/24 Penn State Harrisburg turned a close game in the middle innings into a decisive victory in an 11-2 win over St. Mary's (Md.) in United East Championship Tournament action at Bruggeworth Field on the campus of Wilkes University on a rainy Friday night, May 9.
Blaine Waltimyer, Brendan Henn, Alexander Ruiz and Matthew Johansen each had multi-hit games, with the latter doubling and driving in two runs. Coy Schwanger also racked up three RBIs, while Demetre Koutras III scored three times. Fisher Druck earned the win after striking out eight without surrendering a run in 5.1 innings thrown.
The Lions (32-9-1) got on the board first when a throwing error allowed Drew Sassaman to score in the bottom of the third. Druck stranded a runner on third base in the top of the fifth thanks to back-to-back strikeouts of Aaron Wathen and Cole Tarleton to end the inning.
The Seahawks (13-15) had a chance to do some damage in the top of the sixth when they loaded the bases with only one out. Dylan Sattazahn entered in relief, however, and quickly shut it down, taking advantage of a missed squeeze attempt to throw out Ian Walters trying to slide back into third base before striking out Corey Brown to end the threat.
Reinvigorated after getting out of the jam unscathed, Penn State Harrisburg finally broke through in the bottom half, using three singles from Henn, Koutras and Ruiz, along with a double from Johansen and a Schwanger sacrifice fly to put up three runs and push the lead to 4-0 after six.
Sattazahn retired St. Mary's in order to begin the seventh and the Lions put things out of reach with five more runs in the home half, with Ruiz, Irizarry and Schwanger all driving in runs. Penn State Harrisburg tacked on two more in the eighth when Sam Merchant worked a bases-loaded walk and Tim Haftl came home on a wild pitch to cap the team's scoring.
NOTABLES
- Johansen went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.
- Ruiz was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.
- Waltimyer finished 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
- Henn went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
- Schwanger drove in three runs.
- Koutras scored three times and walked twice.
- Druck earned his sixth win of the season, striking out eight without allowing a run in 5.1 innings thrown.
- Sattazahn struck out three without allowing a hit in 1.2 innings of relief.
- Benjamin Ross threw 1.1 clean innings of relief.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions take on top-seeded Keystone on Saturday morning. The winner moves advances to Sunday's final day of competition, while the loser will play an elimination game later 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.
