Defensive Woes the Culprit in Penn State Harrisburg Loss to East Mennonite

Defensive Woes the Culprit in Penn State Harrisburg Loss to East Mennonite

Harrisonburg, VA—Penn State Harrisburg was able to produce their highest scoring output of the season with six runs against East Mennonite, but a combined eight errors on the day provided their opponents with seven unearned runs.

Bottom 2 – With runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs, East Mennonite scored the first run of the game off of a Joe Hall double to left field.  It was the only run of the inning.  1-0 East Mennonite.

Top 3 – Penn State Harrisburg answered back in the next frame.  Also with two outs, and men on 1st and 3rd, Ethan Kell smacked a double to center field that saw both base runners cross the plate.  2-1 Lions.

Bottom 4 – With two outs and a man on 1st, Joe Hall made it count again, doing it on a triple to left center field this time.  The following at-bat ended on a fielding error by 2nd baseman TJ Mullaly, allowing Hall to score an unearned run from 3rd base.  3-2 East Mennonite.

Bottom 5 – East Mennonite was able to open their lead with three runs in the inning.  The first two runs were scored off a Dean Lowery triple to right field.  Two at-bats later, with men now on 1st and 3rd, Lions pitcher Nick Domenici was called for a balk, allowing the runners to advance a base, scoring the third run of the inning.  6-2 East Mennonite.

Top 6 – Penn State Harrisburg was able to cut into the lead slightly.  With two down, Zachary Koroneos crushed his first homerun of the season.  6-3 East Mennonite.

Bottom 6 – Things began to fall apart for the Lions in the inning.  Here's how it played out:  with no outs and men on 1st and 2nd, a fielding error at 3rd base allowed the runner on 2nd to cross home plate.  A two-RBI double followed in the next at-bat.  A sacrifice fly to center field saw the fourth run of the inning cross home plate two at-bats later. Following a pop fly, and with two outs, the combination of a fielding error and a throwing error allowed the fifth run of the inning to score.  Another single to shortstop would give East Mennonite the sixth and final run of the inning.  12-3 East Mennonite.

Top 7 – Already nine runs down and the game getting late, Penn State Harrisburg made one final push to close the gap.  The inning started off with a Jackson Struve triple to center field, who quickly score off of an Alex Cline single in the next at-bat.  Following a walk, Scott Angstadt Jr. was able to send Cline home on a single up the middle.  A bases-loaded wild pitch two at-bats later sent Justin O'Dell home for the final run of the inning, and the contest.  12-6 East Mennonite.

Final Score:  Penn State Harrisburg 6 East Mennonite 12

WP:  Damon Frazier (3-0) LP:  Bobby Patterson (0-2)

Standout Players:

Zachary Koroneos (2-4, HR, RBI)

Justin O'Dell (2-3, BB, 2 R)

Up Next:

Penn State Harrisburg will play another contest at East Mennonite on Saturday, February 25th.  First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.