NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team ended its recent skid with a doubleheader sweep of No. 11 Christopher Newport on Sunday afternoon. The Lions rolled to an 8-2 victory in the opener before taking a 10-5 decision from the Captains in a back-and-forth second outing.  

GAME 1

Carlos Irizarry and Lucas Floyd provided the firepower at the plate, while Fisher Druck turned in another strong start on the mound before Kyle Mahady closed things out in Penn State Harrisburg's 8-2 win over CNU in Sunday's opener. 

After Druck retired the Captains (8-4) in order in the bottom of the first, Drew Bechtold got the scoring started in the top of the second when he doubled down the left field line and drove in Irizarry from second base. 

Irizarry's first home run of the season came at the perfect time, as he launched a three-run opposite field blast over the fence in right field to put the Lions (5-5) ahead 4-0 in the top of the third. The visitors tacked on another in the top of the sixth when Floyd singled up the middle with two away and drove in Bechtold to make it 5-0. 

Mahady made quick work of the Christopher Newport lineup in the sixth and seventh innings and the offense rewarded him with more timely two-out hitting in the eighth. Tim Haftl's sacrifice fly plated Braeden Piotrowski and Floyd followed it up with a two-run shot to right field that brought Bechtold around with him, stretching the advantage to 8-0. 

The Captains got one back in the bottom of the eighth but Mahady stranded a pair of baserunners to limit the damage. CNU showed life with a solo shot to begin the bottom of the ninth but Mahady beared down and worked out of a bases-loaded threat to end the comeback attempt and secure the game one win.

GAME 2

Kevin Lehner hit a two-run blast and the Lions (6-5) used a five-run seventh inning to create separation in a 10-5 win over nationally-ranked Christopher Newport (8-5) in Sunday's nightcap. 

After three scoreless innings to begin the game, Penn State Harrisburg struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Lucas Floyd singled to first base and an ensuing CNU error allowed Lehner to score before another defensive miscue pushed Carlos Irizarry across one at-bat later.

The Captains answered back in the bottom half when Ayden Stuffel hit a two-run home run to tie things up but Lehner had a response in the form of a two-run bomb of his own in the top of the fifth to put the visitors back in front. 

CNU responded again in the bottom of the sixth and drew even with two more runs but the Lions finally got the big inning they needed in the seventh. Brendan Henn's RBI single plated Drew Sassaman before a bases-loaded passed ball scored Henn a few at-bats later. Braeden Piotrowski singled to center field to push Lehner across and Carlos Irizarry was the second runner to come home on a passed ball. Adam Bova capped the stanza's scoring with a single up the middle that plated Piotrowski with two away.

After Christopher Newport got one back in the bottom half, Penn State Harrisburg answered back in the eighth when Sassaman came across on a wild pitch. The cushion was more than enough for reliever Caiden Ertter, who sat the Captains down 1-2-3 in the bottom half before closing things out in the ninth. 

NOTABLES

- Irizarry finished 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored in game one.

- Floyd went 2-for-4 with a long ball, three RBI and a run scored in the first outing.

- Bechtold was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI in the opener.

- Druck earned his first win of the season, allowing just two hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts in five innings thrown.

- Mahady picked up his first save, holding the Captains to two runs and striking out three in the final four frames. 

- Sassaman was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three runs scored in game two.

- Bova went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the second contest.

- Lehner finished 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored in the nightcap.

- Ertter earned the win in game two, throwing the final 3.2 innings and allowing just one run on three hits and a walk to go along with two strikeouts. 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions host Moravian for another non-conference tilt on Wednesday 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.