AURORA, N.Y. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team took two from United East foe Wells to begin a weekend series on Friday evening, April 21. The Lions won the seven-inning opener 7-2 before completing the doubleheader sweep with another 7-2 victory, this time made official by lightning after six innings. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (25-7, 15-1 United East) won game one of a three-game set on Friday afternoon behind a quality start from Fisher Druck and a strong performance at the plate by Kevin Lehner.

Druck struck out seven and allowed just two runs in six innings throws to earn the win, while Lehner finished with a two-run home run and a double. Matt Parks added an RBI triple and Blaine Waltimyer drove in a game-high three runs. 

Lehner got the scoring started with a two-run blast in the top of the first inning and the Lions tacked on another when a Waltimyer sacrifice fly drove in Maddux Ryan in the third. The Express (10-22, 4-12 United East) made things interesting with a two-run home run in the fifth but the visitors responded with three runs in the ensuing frame. After Lehner led off with a double, Ryan drove him in with a single to left field. Waltimyer followed it up with single to center that scored Ryan and Carlos Irizarry. 

Parks put a bow on the game's scoring in the top of the seventh when he tripled to left center field, allowing Brendan Henn to score from first base before Kevin Maiolo retired the Express in order in the bottom half to clinch the win.

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (26-7, 16-1 United East) recorded its second straight 7-2 victory over Wells (10-23, 4-13 United East), this time in six innings due to lightning, in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader. 

Brendan Henn had a big game at the plate, homering and adding a double, while Matt Park also went yard. Matt Parks also had a multi-hit outing that included an RBI triple. Christian Lubic II picked up the win, striking out six and allowing just two runs on five hits.

Henn and Parks opened the scoring with back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the first inning but the Express tallied one run each in the second and third innings, respectively, to tie things up.

Isaac put the Lions back in front when he tripled to center field, driving in Maddux Ryan in the the top of the fourth before scoring himself on a wild pitch. Ryan helped add to the total with a double to right center field that plated Parks and Kevin Lehner in the fifth before a Carlos Irizarry single pushed Ryan across later in the stanza. 

After Lubic stranded a runner at second in the bottom half of the fifth, a lightning strike halted the contest in the top of the sixth before the game was called after a delay of nearly an hour.

NOTABLES

- Druck earned the win in game one, surrendering just two runs and striking out seven in six innings.

- Maiolo was lights out in relief in the opener, striking out two and retiring all three batters he faced in the final frame.

- Lehner finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two runs scored in the opener.

- Ryan went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the first outing.

- Waltimyer drove in a game-high three runs in the opening contest.

- Henn finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a run scored, and an RBI in game two.

- Isaac was 2-for-2 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored in the second outing. 

- Parks went 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI in the nightcap.

- Ryan was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored in the second contest.

- Lubic struck out six and allowed just two runs in five innings to secure the win in game two.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions wrap up the three-game series at Wells with a single contest on Saturday afternoon. 

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