Salem, Va.- The Penn State Harrisburg baseball team defeated Roanoke, 9-6, on Sunday February 26th for their first win of the 2017 season.

Final Score: Penn State Harrisburg 9 Roanoke 6

Records: Penn State Harrisburg (1-6) Roanoke (8-2)

Game Highlights
Bret Williams started off the day hot with a double down the right field line, but the Lions failed to capitalize in the first inning, leaving one left on base to end the first. Ethan Kell doubled into center in the top of the third while Travis VanHouten had a strong pitching performance giving up only one hit through three innings.

Penn State Harrisburg got on the score board for the first time of the afternoon in the top of the fourth inning. A sacrifice bunt by David Klein advanced Jackson Struve to second. Struve was brought home on a wild pitch by Roanoke. The Lions continued their scoring drive into the fifth when Ethan Kell scored on a pass ball and Josh Brubaker scored on an RBI single by Zachary Koroneos. Alex Kline and Koroneos later scored on a throwing error by Roanoke.

After a scoreless 5 innings pitched by VanHouten, Ethan Kell doubled to center field. Klein later scored on an error by Roanoke. Roanoke started their scoring drive in the bottom of the sixth with RBI singles by three Maroon's. Penn State responded in the top of the eighth with a 2RBI single up the middle by Zachary Koroneos after a strong double by Bret Williams.

Roanoke scored one more in the bottom of the eighth after a sacrifice fly by Watson, scoring Hermanson who doubled earlier in the inning. Penn State Harrisburg's Jackson Struve hustled home in the top of the ninth on an RBI Single by Justin Odell. Roanoke came up short in the end of the ninth, but not without a two run homerun. VanHouten grabbed his first win on the mound, striking out three and only giving up one hit in 5 innings. 

Up Next
Penn State Harrisburg will host Messiah on Wednesday March 1st for their first home game of the year at 3 pm