ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team remained unbeaten in conference play thanks to a 14-4 victory over United East foe St. Mary's (Md.) in eight innings on Thursday afternoon, April 2.
Demetre Koutras III, Coy Schwanger, Matthew Johansen and Zach Neeld each had multi-hit games, with Koutras, Kevin Kingsbury and Nathan Lapp driving in three runs apiece. On the mound, Parker Zook earned his first win of the season, throwing five shutout innings with four strikeouts.
After threatening in the first two innings, the Lions (16-9, 5-0 United East) finally broke through in the top of the third, using four hits and two walks to plate five runs and take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Koutras drove in a pair of runs in the frame to begin the scoring and Johansen doubled to right center to tack on another.
The visitors kept rolling in the fourth, scoring four more runs on three more hits and three more walks. Koutras and Johansen drove in runs with RBI singles, while Kingsbury and Lapp both worked bases-loaded walks.
Penn State Harrisburg tacked on a few insurance runs in the top of the sixth when Lapp's RBI single to right center drove in Johansen and Neeld. Kingsbury came across during the ensuing at-bat thanks to a wild pitch, extending the lead to a dozen runs. The Seahawks (7-12, 4-1 United East) got one back in the bottom half and plated three more in the seventh but an error and Kingsbury's sac fly in the eighth put the Lions back in front by double digits.
Traeton Sauder entered in the bottom of the eighth and following a leadoff walk, the reliever struck out three straight batters to end the game and secure the conference victory.
NOTABLES
- Neeld reached base four times, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, two walks and two runs scored.
- Koutras went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.
- Johansen was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
- Schwanger went 2-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
- Kingsbury and Lapp drove in three runs apiece.
- Zook earned his first win of the season, throwing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
- Sauder struck out three of the four batters he faced in relief.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue conference play against Lancaster Bible in a United East doubleheader 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.
