MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team rallied in the middle innings to erase an early deficit but was unable to hold a four-run lead in a 10-7 loss to No. 24 Arcadia on Monday afternoon, March 4. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

After falling behind 2-0 to begin the game, the Lions (4-3) cut the deficit in half in the second inning thanks to a Julian Belardo sacrifice fly that plated Blaine Waltimyer before breaking through with a four-run bottom of the third. 

Penn State Harrisburg loaded up the bases and Waltimyer worked an RBI walk that tied things up at 2-2. Carlos Irizarry followed it up with a sac fly to center field that plated Drew Sassanian from third base and Belardo singled up the middle to drive in two more and put the home team out in front 5-2 after three. 

The Lions tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth when Dallas Hite fisted a two-out single through the right side to score Lehner. 

Things took a turn in the top of the fifth when a Penn State Harrisburg error eliminated what would have been an out and got the momentum started for the Knights. Five hits, two walks, and a passed ball later, Arcadia reclaimed the lead at 7-6. 

The score stayed tight until the top of the eighth when the visitors added an insurance run before a two-run home run gave them some breathing room at 10-6. A Coy Schwanger RBI single got one back in the bottom half but that proved all the offense the Lions could muster as Arcadia was able to hold on for the series win. 

NOTABLES

- Belardo finished 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBI, and a run scored.

- Lehner went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, and a pair of runs.

- Waltimyer scored a pair of runs and walked twice. 

- Caiden Ertter had a nice outing, allowing no runs and striking out a pair in two innings of relief.

- Reliever Sam Thompson threw a clean ninth inning. 

WHO'S NEXT?

Things don't get any easier for the Lions when they travel to No. 2 Salisbury for the first of back-to-back games against the Sea Gulls on Thursday afternoon.

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.