MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team made a valiant late-inning comeback in the 2022 home opener but came up just short in a 6-4 loss to Arcadia in the final contest of a three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon, March 6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (2-6) fell behind 6-0 midway through the team's most-recent outing before battling back in the final innings but ultimately came up two runs short in another close loss to Arcadia (8-1) on Sunday afternoon.

The early portion of the contest proved a pitcher's duel, as starters Hunter Merritt and Nick Fossile did not allow a run through the first four innings. Merritt allowed just two hits through four, while Fossile surrendered just one.

Things took a turn in the top of the fifth when the Knights laid down three well-placed bunts and took advantage of a pair of Penn State Harrisburg errors to score five unearned runs, putting the Blue & White into a hole they were forced to try to climb out of the rest of the way. After a leadoff hit by pitch and another sacrifice bunt, the Lions' fourth error of the day allowed another Arcadia run to score in the top of the sixth.

Dallas Hite made something happen in the bottom of the sixth when he led off with a walk, advanced to second on a Drew Sassaman sac bunt, stole third, and came across on a wild pitch to get the home team on the board.

The Lions continued to fight back in the bottom of the seventh, moving a pair of runners into scoring position before Brendan Henn drove them in with a two-out single to left field to cut the deficit to three. Penn State Harrisburg threatened again in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs but the Knights limited the damage to just one run when a Kevin Lehner sac fly plated Sassaman.

NOTABLES

- All six of Arcadia's runs were of the unearned variety thanks to four Penn State Harrisburg errors.

- Hunter Merritt turned in a quality start, going six innings and allowing just four hits and no earned runs.

- Brad Richards turned in a great relief performance, going three innings, striking out four, and surrendering just two hits.

- Matt Parks was the lone Lion to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

- Brendan Henn drove in a team-high two runs.

- Alex Madera led the way for Arcadia, going 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions face another tough test when they travel to No. 8 Salisbury for the first of two games with the defending national champions on Wednesday afternoon, March 9. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED