WHITEWATER, Wis. – Penn State Harrisburg baseball was unable to hold the lead in the closing innings of a heartbreaking 15-14 loss to No. 10 Adrian in an NCAA Tournament Regional Round elimination game at UW-Whitewater's Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on Saturday afternoon, May 29. With the loss, Penn State Harrisburg's historic 2021 campaign came to a close.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg held a two-run lead heading into the final inning but was unable to put the finishing touches on a victory, instead watching No. 10 Adrian, the Whitewater Regional's top seed, score three runs in the top of the ninth before stranding the tying run at first base in the bottom of the stanza to steal the win.

The Lions led 9-1 after five innings but the nationally-ranked Bulldogs used three doubles, a hit batter, and a Blue & White error to cut the deficit to four. The momentum carried over into the seventh and Adrian stayed hot, racking up five runs thanks to two more Penn State Harrisburg miscues along with two hit batters, a walk, and three hits, including a bases-clearing double from Sean O'Keefe.

The Blue & White answered right back in the bottom of the seventh, however, with Maddux Ryan doubling to lead off the bottom half and Tyler Aug tying the game with a double of his own two at-bats later. In the top of the ensuing inning, two more doubles, including one with two runners in scoring position, allowed the Bulldogs to pull ahead by two.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Lions responded again. Pinch-hitter Drew Bechtold hit a ground-rule double over the fence in left field to score Matt Parks before Casey Winters tied the game with an RBI groundout that plated Matt Isaac. Aug stayed hot and put Penn State Harrisburg ahead with a single through the right side that drove in Bechtold and pinch-runner Robbie Skinner came across on a wild pitch to give the Blue & White some insurance.

Adrian answered back in the top of the ninth, however, loading the bases before Tristin Richardson's double to left field scored a pair and tied the game. Hunter Merritt took the rubber for the Lions and retired all three batters he faced but a fly to right field was enough to score Joe Casale from third base and reclaim the lead for the Bulldogs.

Isaac tried to get a two-out rally going for Penn State Harrisburg with a single to left center field but Adrian reliever Gage Ricker was able to strand pinch-runner Zach Gettys at first and get a ground ball to end the wild contest.

NOTABLES

- The contest was the fifth against a nationally-ranked opponent for Penn State Harrisburg this season.

- Matt Isaac went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored.

- Maddux Ryan finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI before an injury forced him from the game.

- Tyler Aug was 2-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in.

- Chase Smith and Matt Parks also had multi-hit games, with each player scoring three runs.

- Dallas Hite and Drew Bechtold each added doubles.

- Starter Austin Kunkel had a solid outing, allowing just three earned runs on seven hits and three walks to go along with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings thrown.

- Hunter Merritt entered in a tough spot in a relief role in the top of the ninth but retired all three batters he faced.

- Errors hurt the Lions, as four defensive miscues led to six unearned runs for Adrian.

- Penn State Harrisburg finished the 2021 campaign with a 29-9 overall record.

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