Penn State Harrisburg 8, St. Mary's (Md.) 6 – Game 1

Harrisburg Lineup

1. Williams lf, 2. Smith cf, 3. Torres ss, 4. Van Houten p, 5. Winters rf, 6. McSorley 3b, 7. Koroneos 1b, 8. Aug c, 9. Struve 2b

SMC Lineup

1. Bryner dh, 2. Waters lf, 3. Hammett 1b, 4. Plagge c, 5. Johnson cf, 6. Coursey ss, 7. Taitano 2b, 8. Waters 3b, 9. Merritt rf, Sturgess p

How It Happened

The long ball proved valuable for Penn State Harrisburg in the team's 8-6 victory over Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) foe St. Mary's (Md.) in the opening contest of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, March 16.

Travis Van Houten was outstanding for the Lions (7-2-1, 1-0 CAC), earning the victory on the mound and racking up a game-high five RBI thanks to a three-run home run and a timely triple. Bret Williams and Tyler Aug also went yard, while Chase Smith's double accounted for the team's fifth extra-base hit of the game.

Williams led off the game for the Blue & White by taking the first pitch he saw deep over the fence in left field before Van Houten snuck his homer just inside the foul pole down the left field line. Aug added a two-run bomb to left field four at-bats later and just like that Penn State Harrisburg led 6-0 after the first frame.

The Seahawks (5-4-1, 0-1 CAC) battled back, however, getting on the board in the top of the third before making things interesting by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to cut the early deficit to 6-5 in the final stanzas.

After taking over the designated hitter's role in the top of the seventh, Van Houten's bat did the damage in the bottom half when he tripled to right center field and brought Smith and Miguel Torres across in the process.

St. Mary's (Md.) tacked on a run in the top of the ninth but reliever Brendan Riotto clamped down and closed things out by striking out Tyler Johnson to end the game.

At the Plate

- Travis Van Houten did major damage, going 2-for-4 with a 3-run home run, a 2-run triple, a run scored and five RBI.

- Chase Smith finished 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a walk.

- Ryan McSorley was the third Blue & White player to have a multi-hit outing.

- Bret Williams and Tyler Aug each added first-inning home runs.

- Dillon Waters had a nice game for SMC, going 3-for-5 with a home run and a double.

On the Mound

- Travis Van Houten got the start and the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing nine hits and three runs. He struck out five batters and walked none.

- The Lions chased SMC starter Drew Sturgess from the game after he allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks in 3.2 innings of work.

- Brendan Riotto picked up his third save of the season after throwing the final 2.1 frames. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk. He also struck out two batters.

Around the Diamond

- The Lions were aggressive on the base paths but were caught stealing three times.

- Both teams were clean in the field.

- Jackson Struve recorded six assists at second base.

- Chase Smith had three putouts in center field.

Penn State Harrisburg 8, St. Mary's (Md.) 4 – Game 2

Harrisburg Lineup

1. Williams lf, 2. Smith cf, 3. Torres ss, 4. Van Houten dh, 5. McSorley 3b, 6. Winters lf, 7. Koroneos 1b, 8. Bream c, 9. Struve 2b, Gettys p

SMC Lineup

1. Collins 2b, 2. Waters lf, 3. Hammett 1b, 4. Plagge dh, 5. Coursey ss, 6. Taitano c, 7. Waters 3b, 8. Merritt rf, 9. James cf, Manion p

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg grabbed the early lead and never gave it up in an 8-4 victory over Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) opponent St. Mary's (Md.) in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, March 16.

Travis Van Houten racked up five RBI for the second time in as many outings thanks to a 3-run home run and a two-run double. Bret Williams had three hits, while Zach Gettys and Tyler Jackson combined for a solid outing on the mound.

The Lions (8-2-1, 2-0 CAC) jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Ryan McSorley that brought Williams across and a Casey Winters' sacrifice fly that plated Miguel Torres in the bottom of the first inning.

Just as he did in the day's first contest, Van Houten added to the lead when he smoked a 3-run home run over the fence in left center in the third inning that also plated Chase Smith and Torres to make it 5-0 heading into the fourth frame.

The Seahawks (5-5-1, 0-2 CAC) broke up the shutout when Bowen Plagge hit a solo home run in the fourth but the visitors made a real push by scoring three more runs in the top of the fifth.

The Blue & White added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Van Houten doubled deep to center field, allowing Torres to cross the plate. The home team essentially put things out of reach when Jackson Struve scored on a Torres ground ball and a Van Houten groundout brought Smith across in the bottom of the sixth.

At the Plate

- Travis Van Houten finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk and a game-high five RBI.

- Bret Williams went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

- Miguel Torres added a double, an RBI and three runs scored.

- Each team recorded four extra-base hits.

On the Mound

- Zach Gettys got the start and the win, allowing two earned runs on seven hits to go along with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.

- Tyler Jackson earned his second save of the season, throwing the final 4.1 innings and allowing just four hits and no walks. He also struck out three batters.

- Penn State Harrisburg knocked SMC starter Connor Manion out of the game after four innings. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks.

Around the Diamond

- The Lions racked up four stolen bases, led by a pair of swipes by Miguel Torres.

- The Seahawks' Tyler Taitano was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

- Shortstop Miguel Torres recorded four putouts and assisted on three more.

- Jackson Struve had three putouts and three assists at second base.

Who's Next?

The Lions wrap up their weekend series with St. Mary's (Md.) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

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