SALISBURY, Md. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team nearly came away with a second straight road win over the defending national champions but No. 5 Salisbury's six-run eighth inning proved too much to overcome in a 10-8 loss on Friday afternoon, March 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (3-7) turned in another strong effort against one of the nation's top teams but a pair of big innings allowed No. 5 Salisbury (8-5) to escape with a narrow victory in the final contest of a two-game series on Friday afternoon.

Chase Smith and Brendan Henn each had three-hit outings, while Dallas Hite and Matt Parks each hit solo home runs. Tyler Stabley was especially strong in a relief appearance, going 4.2 innings, striking out two batters, surrendering just one hit, and allowing no runs. 

The Lions jumped out in front right away when Hite led off the game with a deep shot over the fence in center field. The lead wouldn't last long however, as the home team used a pair of hit batsmen and three singles to score four runs in the bottom of the opening frame.

The visitors chipped away in the third, with Kevin Lehner starting a rundown to allow Hite to score from third before a Salisbury throwing error brought home Smith and cut the deficit to one after three. 

In the top of the fifth, Henn came through with a two-RBI single to center field that plated Lehner and Smith, giving the visitors their first lead since the opening stanza. Parks added to the advantage with a massive solo blast over the fence in right field in the sixth and the Blue & White tacked on one more in the top of the eighth thanks to a Lehner sac fly that drove in Drew Sassaman.

After being held in check for much of the day, Salisbury finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth and used three walks, two doubles, and a key Penn State Harrisburg error to tally six runs. 

The Lions battled in the ninth, with a Sam Merchant ground out scoring Henn and cutting the deficit to two. Isaac eventually moved into scoring position and the tying run came to the plate but the Blue & White were unable to come all the way back despite the final rally.

NOTABLES

- The top of Penn State Harrisburg's lineup was potent, as the first six batters combined for 14 of the teams' 15 hits on the day.

- Chase Smith went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases.

- Brendan Henn finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

- Matt Parks had a big day, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

- Dallas Hite stayed hot, going 2-for-5 with a leadoff homer, two runs scored, and a stolen base. 

- Kevin Lehner and Matt Isaac also had multi-hit outings. 

- Tyler Stabley turned in his best performance of the young season, throwing 4.2 innings of relief, striking out two, and allowing just one hit.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions face another former conference foe in Christopher Newport for doubleheader action on Sunday, March 13. Game one is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. 

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