MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The aggressiveness of Demetre Koutras III on the basepath proved the difference in (RV) Penn State Harrisburg's come-from-behind, 8-7, walkoff victory over Stevenson on Tuesday afternoon, March 24.
Alexander Ruiz had a multi-hit outing and drove in two runs, while Blaine Waltimyer hit his third home run of the season. Coy Schwanger and Matthew Johansen each scored twice on the day. Bryant Allison earned the win after throwing two sterling innings of relief, striking out three batters without allowing a baserunner.
With the game tied 7-7 and two away in the bottom of the ninth, Koutras provided an all-important baserunner by flaring a single out to shallow right field. Schwanger was hit by a pitch during the ensuing at-bat to move Koutras into scoring position and the deciding sequence took place during Johansen's turn at the plate. An errant pitch momentarily skirted away from the Stevenson catcher and Koutras broke for third. The throw was too high for the third baseman and made its way into left field. Koutras alertly jumped to his feet, raced for the plate and slid home to secure the thrilling victory.
Stevenson (6-8) came out swinging to begin the game, tallying six hits and four runs in the top of the first inning to put the Lions (13-7) in an early hole. Penn State Harrisburg got one back in the bottom of the opening frame when Ruiz's swinging bunt to third base drove in Chris Catania. The home team got two more back in the ensuing stanza when James Quici was hit by a pitch with the bases full before Ruiz worked a bases-loaded walk.
A solo home run pushed the Stevenson lead to two in the fourth but Waltimyer used one mighty swing to tie things up in the fifth, when he roped a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left center field with Ruiz on base. A Nathan Lapp fielder's choice later in the inning pushed Schwanger across and Johansen came home thanks to a two-out wild pitch.
The Mustangs pulled even with a two-run shot in the top of the seventh before Allison entered in the eighth and quickly shut down all comers. After he struck out a pair of Stevenson batters in the top of the ninth, the Lions put a bow on their fifth win in a row thanks to the head's up baserunning from Koutras in the bottom half.
NOTABLES
- The victory was Penn State Harrisburg's fifth in a row.
- Allison earned his first win of the season after throwing 2.0 innings of relief without allowing a baserunner and striking out three.
- Ruiz was 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored.
- Waltimyer hit his third home run of the season. He drove in two runs and scored another.
- Johansen walked three times and scored a pair of runs.
- Schwanger finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
WHO'S NEXT?
It's right back to work for the Lions as they travel to No. 6/8 Shenandoah for another matchup with a nationally-ranked opponent on Wednesday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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