Lions Get First Win of Season in Dramatic Style over Stevenson

Lions Get First Win of Season in Dramatic Style over Stevenson

Thomasville, NC The Penn State Harrisburg baseball did not take long adjusting to warmer weather and outdoor baseball.  After a slow start in their first outing, the men found their swing and were able to combine for an exciting 11-10 comeback win over the Stevenson Mustangs on Saturday February 20th

Connor Bowers (Mount Joy, Pa. / Donegal) helped create some early breathing room for Harrisburg in the bottom of the second with a single to left center that scored two, ending the second inning with the Lions up 3-0. 

The Mustangs responded back with force by scoring nine runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth to take a 10-3 lead.  Thankfully, the Blue and White men refused to accept the game was over.  Kevin Kremer (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey) singled to right field for two RBI's, scoring Blake Reiff (Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central) and Will Quiles (Tamiment, Pa. / East Stroudsburg North) making the game 10-5 to start the seventh.

Stevenson struggled in the 7th defensively, opening the door for the Lions to start the dramatic comeback.  Along with some solid hitting and base running, a few timely errors helps Harrisburg to score four more runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Cody Dakin (Newport, N.C. / West Carteret) helped keep the Mustangs at bay, pitching in the 5th-8th innings while only allowing one run and striking out four.  He was relieved in the 9th inning by Michael Balshy (Palmyra, Pa. / Palmrya), who only allowed one walk before shutting down the Mustangs at a crucial moment in the game.

This gave Penn State Harrisburg a chance for the spectacular, after being down as many as seven runs with only four innings two play, the Lions needed just two runs to end the game in regulation and take their first win of the season. Travis VanHouten (Saylorsburg, Pa. / Pleasant Valley) and Russell Boop (Langhorne, Pa. / Neshaminy) both hit doubles and earned an RBI each to end the game with a walk off double and the 11-10 win. 

The Lions will next face Gallaudet in a double header with a late game occurring on Saturday February 20th and the second leg the morning of the 21st.