SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - After dropping a heartbreaker to (RV) Randolph-Macon in the first game of the day, Penn State Harrisburg bounced back by defeating No. 22/22 Russell Sage for the second time is as many days to eliminate the NCAA Regional's top seed with an 8-5 victory and clinch a spot in the regional final for the first time in program history.
James Quici homered for the second time in as many days and scored a pair of runs, while Demetre Koutras III and Chris Catania each had multi-hit games. Matthew Johansen scored a pair of runs and drove in two more, while Coy Schwanger reached base three times. Traeton Sauder earned the win after throwing three scoreless innings of relief and Parker Zook threw the final three stanzas to earn his first save of the season.
Quici led off the game by working a full count before launching an offering over the fence in right field but the Gators (37-8) took advantage of a couple of free bases in the ensuing innings to jump out to a 2-1 lead through two stanzas.
The Lions (35-14) tied things up in the fourth when Catania came through with a two-out, RBI single that plated Johansen from second base. After Sauder retired Russell Sage in order in the bottom half, the visitors broke through with the bats in the ensuing frame. Schwanger worked a walk and Blaine Waltimyer, Koutras, and Johansen followed with three straight singles, resulting in the go-ahead run. Penn State Harrisburg tacked on another when an Alexander Ruiz fielder's choice resulted in an error that allowed Koutras to score.
Schwanger added an insurance run thanks to a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Sam Thompson retired all six batters he faced in relief. Another error allowed Johansen to score in the seventh and Waltimyer capped Penn State Harrisburg's scoring with a sac fly to center field that drove in Quici in the eighth.
The Gators showed some life when Jayden Kennedy hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth but Zook closed the door on the comeback attempt by retiring the home team 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and punching the Lions' ticket to the regional final for the first time.
NOTABLES
- The victory was Penn State Harrisburg's seventh all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
- The win was the fourth over a nationally-ranked team for the Lions this season.
- With the victory, the Lions matched the program's single-season win mark (35).
- Waltimyer homered against Randolph-Macon to become just the fifth player in program history to reach the 200-hit mark for his career.
- Quici homered for the second time in as many days, scored two runs, and drove in one more.
- Koutras and Catania recorded two hits apiece.
- Johansen scored a pair of runs and drove in two more.
- Sauder allowed just two hits in three scoreless innings of relief en route to earning the win.
- Thompson retired all six batters he faced in two innings of relief.
- Zook earned the save after throwing the final three innings.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions get a rematch with Randolph-Macon on Sunday morning. Penn State Harrisburg will have to beat the Yellow Jackets twice to win the regional.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.
