NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - For the second time in three games, Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team struggled to limit free bases, resulting in a 15-9 loss at No. 18 Christopher Newport on Sunday afternoon, March 12. 

Lucas Floyd accounted for a team-high three hits, while Dallas Hite, Brendan Henn, Kevin Lehner, and Carlos Irizarry each had two-hit outings. Matt Parks also drove in three runs on the afternoon

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (7-5) struck first but couldn't hold off Christopher Newport (15-5) in the final outing of a three-game weekend series on Sunday. 

Hite opened the contest with a double and Henn followed it up with a walk before Parks came through with a two-out single up the middle that drove them both in to make it 2-0 after the first half inning. In a sign of things to come, however, the Captains took advantage of seven walks, three wild pitches, a hit by pitch, and just two hits across the next two frames to pull ahead 5-2. 

The home team upped its advantage to 10-2 before Parks ended Penn State Harrisburg's scoring drought in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly that allowed Henn to tag up from third base. CNU answered with a two-run home run in the bottom half and tacked on another in the sixth.

The Lions flipped the script in the top of the seventh when they used three walks and four wild pitches, combined with singles from Floyd and Irizarry and a double by Henn, to push six runs across and cut the deficit to 13-9 through six and a half. 

The Captains stemmed the tide by plating two more in the bottom of the seventh, however, and did not surrender a base knock in the final two stanzas to seal the victory and complete the three-game sweep.

NOTABLES

- Despite managing just one more hit than the Lions (14-13), CNU benefitted from 16 walks, seven wild pitches, and a pair of hit by pitches.

- Floyd went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. 

- Henn was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI, a pair of runs scored, and a stolen base.

- Hite finished 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and a run scored. 

- Lehner was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

- Irizarry went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

- Josh Lantz walked twice and scored a run.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions open conference play when they host United East foe Lancaster Bilble for the first outing of a three-game weekend series on Friday afternoon, March 17.

STAY CONNECTED

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