PALMYRA, Pa. - No. 23/28 Penn State Harrisburg completed the weekend sweep of UMass Dartmouth thanks to a pair of victories at In the Net Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon, March 1. The Lions closed out the suspended game from the day prior with an 11-10 win in 11 innings before wrapping up the three-game series with another 18-12 victory.
GAME 1
After the game was suspended due to darkness the day before, Alexander Ruiz ended the 11-inning marathon with a walkoff, RBI double that plated Coy Schwanger and gave Penn State Harrisburg a thrilling, 11-10 victory over the Corsairs (0-5).
Schwanger got the rally started in the bottom of the 11th when he worked a one-out walk and Demetre Koutras III was intentionally walked to move Schwanger into scoring position with two away. Ruiz stepped to the plate and made the Corsairs pay when he laced a double to right center field and brought Schwanger home to end the contest 17 hours later than originally anticipated.
The Lions (4-1) trailed 5-0 to begin the contest but used a five-run second inning to get back into it before creating some breathing room when Waltimyer and Koutras hit back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the sixth. UMass Dartmouth got to the Penn State Harrisburg bullpen in the eighth and ninth frames to pull even at 10-10 and neither team could break the stalemate before darkness forced a suspension until Sunday afternoon.
Sam Thompson took over on the mound to begin Sunday's sprint and eventually earned the win after allowing just one hit in the top of the 11th inning.
GAME 2
The bats were out in full force in Penn State Harrisburg's 18-12 victory over UMass Dartmouth in the final game of the weekend series on Sunday afternoon. The Lions (5-1) racked up 13 hits, five of the extra-base variety, and 16 walks in the final outing.
The home team scored five runs in the first, three in the second and three more in the fourth to build a comfortable 11-1 lead but the Corsairs (0-6) regrouped in the top of the fifth and used six hits, four walks and a hit by pitch to plate nine in the frame and cut the deficit to one. Penn State Harrisburg responded in the bottom half, however, when Schwanger doubled to left center field and drove in James Quici and Nathan Lapp to push the advantage back to three runs.
The Lions tacked on five more runs in the sixth to create some breathing room and relievers Cade Baker and Aidan Bergholc combined for 2.1 scoreless innings. UMass Dartmouth scored a pair in the top of the ninth but the mini-rally proved far too little, too late.
NOTABLES
- Koutras had a big game one, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple and a walk. He scored three runs and drove in three more.
- Waltimyer hit his first home run of the season in the opener and scored two runs.
- Haftl doubled twice in game one, driving in a run and scoring two more.
- Jon Morgante went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored in the opener.
- Dylan Sattazahn racked up nine strikeouts in four innings of relief.
- Reliever Benjamin Ross cruised before game one was halted due to darkness, striking out four of the five batters he faced in 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Schwanger went 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, four RBI and two runs scored in the finale.
- Quici finished 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored in game two.
- Baker picked up the win in the nightcap after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief and striking out three batters.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions are scheduled to take on No. 8/8 Rowan later this week before traveling to No. 22 Christopher Newport for a three-game weekend series.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.
