Penn State Harrisburg 15, Eastern 1 – Game 1

Harrisburg Lineup

1. Williams 3b, 2. Smith cf, 3. Torres ss, 4. Van Houten 2b, 5. Winters rf, 6. Koroneos 1b, 7. Bream dh, 8. Aug c, 9. Angstadt Jr. lf, Riggs p

EU Lineup

1. Clemens 2b, 2. McHale cf, 3. Digiacomo lf, 4. Daddario dh, 5. Frisby1b, 6. Belansek 3b, 7. Clarke rf, 8. Aguila ss, Geib c, Poma p

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg left no doubt during a 15-1 rout of Eastern in the opening contest of a non-conference doubleheader in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Wednesday morning, March 6.

The Lions (4-1-1) put up crooked numbers in each of the first four innings, racking up nine total hits and taking advantage of seven Eastern errors. Brandon Riggs struck out seven batters in five innings of work en route to earning the win on the bump, while Bret Williams and Travis Van Houten each drove in three runs.

Chase Smith scored the first Blue & White run thanks to a Van Houten RBI groundout before Miguel Torres plated thanks to an error by the Eagles (1-4) in the bottom of the first inning. Penn State Harrisburg tallied five runs in the bottom of the next stanza thanks to a Williams single that scored Nate Bream and Tyler Aug, a Van Houten triple that brought Scott Angstadt Jr. and Williams across, and a passed ball that allowed Van Houten to score from third base.

The Blue & White tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the third, as another Eastern error allowed Bream and Aug to come across before a Casey Williams' RBI single plated Williams. Zachary Koroneos had a base knock that drove in Smith and Bream's single scored Van Houten and Winters after the Lions batted around.

Penn State Harrisburg added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth frame when Austin Baker's single brought Angstadt Jr. across before Matt Taylor's RBI groundout drove in Justin O'Dell.

At the Plate

- Travis Van Houten was 1-for-2 with a triple, a walk, three RBI and two runs scored.

- Bret Williams went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.

- Matt Parks finished 2-for-2 after coming on midway through the game.

- Chase Smith and Tyler Aug scored two runs apiece.

On the Mound

- Brandon Riggs got the start and the win after scattering six hits in five innings pitched. He allowed just one run and racked up seven strikeouts.

- Relievers Phoenix Spiller and Hunter Crawford combined to throw two innings and did not allow a hit.

- The Lions chased Eastern starter Matt Poma from the game after two innings after he allowed seven runs on three hits and two walks.

Around the Diamond

- The Eagles struggled in the field, committing seven errors.

- Only three of Penn State Harrisburg's runs were earned.

- The Blue & White had just one defensive miscue.

- The Lions stole seven bases in the opener, with Bret Williams and Nate Bream each swiping two bags.

Penn State Harrisburg 11, Eastern 3 – Game 2

Harrisburg Lineup

1. McSorley 3b, 2. Smith cf, 3. Williams lf, 4. Van Houten dh, 5. Torres ss, 6. Winters rf, 7. Koroneos 1b, 8. Aug c, 9. Struve 2b, Kunkel p

EU Lineup

1. Clemens 2b, 2. McHale dh, 3. Digiacomo lf, 4. Daddario 1b, 5. Frisby 3b, 6. Poma cf, 7. Foytik rf, 8. Belansek ss, 9. Gruendl c, Hoffer p

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg capped off its non-conference doubleheader with Eastern with the team's second convincing victory in as many outings; an 11-3 win in game two in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Wednesday afternoon, March 6.

The Blue & White (5-1-1) were led by starting pitcher Austin Kunkel, as well as Travis Van Houten's 3-for-4, three-RBI, three-run effort at the plate. Evan Frisby was the only Eastern player to record multiple hits with two singles.

The Lions got on the board first when an EU error allowed chase Smith to score from third base in the bottom of the first inning. Penn State Harrisburg doubled its lead when another error by the Eagles (1-5) saw Van Houten score as a result in the third stanza.

The first crooked number of the game was put up in the fourth frame when the Blue & White pushed five runs across. Bret Williams, Van Houten, Miguel Torres and Casey Winters each drove in runs during the offensive outburst.

The Lions stretched the advantage to 11-1 in the top of the fifth thanks to a Van Houten triplet that drove in Scott Angstadt Jr. and Ryan McSorley and a Matt Taylor RBI single after a wild pitch plated Jackson earlier in the stanza.

Eastern used a wild pitch to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth but the effort came far too late to have any impact on the final score.

At the Plate

- Travis Van Houten led the way, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

- Van Houten's RBI triple was the only extra-base hit of the game.

- Ryan McSorley, Chase Smith and Jackson Struve each scored a pair of runs.

- Bret Williams scored a run and drove in one more.

On the Mound

- Starter Austin Kunkel got the win after throwing four innings and allowing just one run on five hits and one walk. He also struck out four batters.

- Tyler Jackson was strong in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out seven Eagles in three innings of work.

- Eastern starter Colyn Hoffer went just three innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks.

Around the Diamond

- Neither team stole a base in game two.

- The Eagles committed three errors that led to three unearned runs.

- Penn State Harrisburg committed just one error.

Who's Next?

The Lions wrap up their spring break trip against New England College on Thursday afternoon, March 7.

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