GLENSIDE, Pa. - Errors proved costly for Penn State Harrisburg baseball, as the team dropped both games of a non-conference doubleheader to Arcadia on Saturday afternoon, March 5. The Lions surrendered five unearned runs in a 6-4 loss in the opener before allowing five unearned runs in a 13-9 setback in the nightcap. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (2-4) led on three occasions and outhit Arcadia (6-1) but defensive miscues were too much for the Lions to overcome in the first game of a road twin bill on Saturday afternoon.

Despite five runs scoring during his outing, none were earned during Drew Harshbarger's 5.2 innings pitched that included four strikeouts. Kevin Lehner was 2-for-4 with a home run, while Dallas Hite, Ryan McSorley, and Brendan Henn also had multi-hit games. 

The Blue & White took an early lead when Chase Smith came through with a two-out single to left field that drove in Drew Sassaman in the top of the first. The score held until the bottom of the fourth when the Knights took advantage of a pair of errors and plated two unearned runs to pull ahead for the first time. 

In the top of the fifth, Matt Parks answered back and reclaimed the lead for the visitors with a single to center field that brought Hite and Josh Lantz across. Lehner added a tally when he hit a solo shot over the fence in left field in the top of the sixth. 

In the bottom of the frame, however, two more Penn State Harrisburg errors led to three Arcadia runs. The home team plated its first earned run of the day when Ryan Smolen's double drove in Joseph Kumar in the seventh to make it 6-4.

The Lions had chances to cut into the deficit in the seventh and eighth stanzas, moving a runner into scoring position in each frame, but the Knights were able to strand them and hold on for the game-one win.

GAME 2

Just like in the opener, game two saw Penn State Harrisburg (2-5) outhit Arcadia (7-1) but three errors proved costly in the nightcap and the Knights capitalized to sweep Saturday's doubleheader. 

Dallas Hite went 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, and three RBI, while Sam Merchant finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and a pair of walks. Starter Zach Gettys went four innings and struck out four, allowing just three earned runs. 

After falling behind in the bottom of the first, the Lions tied it up thanks to Sam Merchant's RBI double that drove in Kevin Lehner in the top of the second. Before the inning was over, Hite put the visitors in front with a sacrifice fly and Brendan Henn made it 3-1 by plating Merchant with a single to right field. 

The Knights scored three unearned runs in the third and pulled ahead 5-3 but Hite's two-run bomb in the top of the fourth brought Merchant around with him to tie it up. Two more unearned runs came across for Arcadia in the bottom half of the frame and the home team tacked on four more to go up 11-5. 

The Blue & White kept fighting and cut the deficit in half when Robbie Skinner launched a three-run blast to left field in the sixth. Arcadia got one back in the bottom of the seventh and despite a Merchant solo shot in the top of the ninth, the Lions were unable to make one last push to extend the game. 

NOTABLES

- The Lions outhit Arcadia 12-5 in the opener and 13-11 in game two.

- A combined seven errors by Penn State Harrisburg led to 10 total unearned runs for the Knights.

- Dallas Hite went a combined 6-for-10 with a home run, two doubles, four runs, and three RBI across both games.

- Sam Merchant had a monster second outing, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, four runs, two RBI, and a pair of walks. 

- Kevin Lehner had a nice nightcap, finishing 3-for-5 with a run scored. 

- Ryan McSorley, Brendan Henn, and Kevin Lehner each had multi-hit performances in game one.

- Drew Harshbarger got the game one start, striking out four, scattering four hits, and allowing no earned runs in 5.2 innings thrown.

- Brad Richards threw 1.1 innings of relief and struck out two without surrendering a hit.

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions wrap up their three-game weekend series with Arcadia when they host the Knights for their home opener on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

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