Houseal "Walks" Off On Senior Day; Lions Top Albright In Extras

Houseal "Walks" Off On Senior Day; Lions Top Albright In Extras

Pitching

Win: Derek Slagle (0-0)
Loss: Mat Costa (0-0)

Batting

Albright
2B: Nathan Fretz; Joe Pechulis; Julian Cimino
3B: none
HR: none
Penn St.-Harrisburg
2B: Colton Houseal; Garrett McCutcheon 2
3B: none
HR: none
full stats
Posted: Apr 16, 2014

Middletown, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg honored its seniors with a one-run, comeback, extra-inning victory over Albright on Wednesday afternoon.  The atmosphere on the diamond was focused, but with a hint of a less stressed Harrisburg team.  With the weight of the Capital Athletic Conference off their shoulders, the men were able to focus on just finishing the season on a positive note. 

It did not take long for the Lions to get started.  Logan Hall (Sunbury, Pa. / Shikellamy) singled to left center in the first inning and after stealing a base was in position to score.  Senior Colton Houseal (Maytown, Pa. / Donegal) doubled to left field for the first RBI of the day and an early Lion lead. 

Albright matched the effort in the second inning to tie things quickly back up.  In the bottom of the third Harrisburg regained their one run advantage thanks to another Hall stolen base.  A Travis Crammer (Cerritos, Cal. / Cerritos) single set up Eric Hoover (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey) who grounded out bringing in Hall. 

Starting pitcher Clint Hicks (State College, Pa. / State College) got into a little bit of trouble and left the game giving up only one earned run in.  The bases were loaded when Will Chaney (Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg) came in to the game in the top of the fifth.  He was able to get out of the inning, but the visiting Lions scored two runs for another lead change.  When they scored two more in the sixth, it felt as if Harrisburg was about to lose another game they were so close to taking.

 

 

 A frustrated Albright pitcher put three men on base with a hit by pitch and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth.  In stepped Garrett McCutcheon (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin).  With two outs, he drilled in three runs with a double when the Blue and White needed it most. 

 The game was tied at 5-5 through the final three innings that included a multitude of pitching changes from both teams that were desperate to do whatever they could to get the win.  In the bottom of the tenth, Harrisburg had the bases loaded once again, needing just one run to win the game.  Suiting for senior day, Houseal was at the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.  He did not hit a grand slam, but his good eye helped him get a walk he will remember, allowing Jim Quinn (Thornton, Pa. / Garnet Valley) to score the game's final run. 

 

It was an exciting thrill ride from start to finish.  Harrisburg earned the win with a true team effort both offensively and defensively.  Their next game is at Dickinson Monday April 21st where they hope to continue playing the baseball we have seen this past week.  

 

  • Wed, 04/24 | Baseball at Shenandoah W, 3-1 (Final) RC | BX | V
  • Tue, 04/23 | Baseball at Susquehanna W, 14-0 (Final) RC | BX | V
  • Sun, 04/21 | Baseball vs. Penn St.-Abington W, 14-1 (Final - 7 innings) RC | BX | V
  • Sat, 04/20 | Baseball vs. Penn St.-Abington W, 5-1 (Final) BX | V
  • Sat, 04/20 | Baseball vs. Penn St.-Abington W, 7-2 (Final) BX | V
NCAA DIV 111