JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team reached the 30-win mark thanks to a doubleheader sweep of United East rival Penn State Abington at Alverthorpe Park on Thursday afternoon, April 27. The Lions secured a 10-2 win in the opener before closing out the day with an 11-5 victory in the nightcap. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (29-8, 18-1 United East) put up runs in all but two innings of a 10-2 victory over Penn State Abington (17-18, 12-7 United East) in the first outing of Thursday's doubleheader. 

Matt Parks had a multi-hit game and drove in six runs, while Dallas Hite, Brendan Henn, and Lucas Floyd scored two runs apiece. Fisher Druck earned the win on the mound, throwing six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits. 

Parks drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly that plated Hite in the top of the first and the visitors followed it up with a four-run second inning that included two more RBI for Parks. Carlos Irizarry drove in Blaine Waltimyer in the fifth and a Parks RBI groundout in the sixth pushed the lead to 7-0.

A two-run home run got Penn State Abington on the board in the bottom of the sixth but the visitors answered back in the top of the ensuing frame, with Parks plating two more with an RBI single and Kevin Lehner driving in Joe Licolli to cap the game's scoring before Riley Blatt retired the home team in order in the bottom half to end the game.

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (30-8, 19-1 United East) won its 30th game of the season with an 11-5 victory at Penn State Abington (17-19, 12-8 United East) in the final outing of Thursday's conference doubleheader. 

Matt Parks turned in his second straight strong effort, going 3-for-3 with two walks, three RBI, and a run scored. Dallas Hite homered and scored three runs, while Blaine Walitmyer had a three-hit game. Christian Lubic II earned his second win of the spring, going seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits to go along with four strikeouts. 

The visitors plated a pair in the top of the first thanks to a Hite/Brendan Henn double steal and an RBI single from Parks. They tacked on one run each in the second and third innings, respectively, before Hite roped a two-run home run over the fence in left field to make in 7-0 in the sixth. The long ball was the 

Penn State Abington used a pair of home runs to cut the deficit to 7-3 after eight but Penn State Harrisburg responded with a four-run top of the ninth that saw Parks drive in two more runs, while Carlos Irizarry and Waltimyer also drove in runs during the stanza. 

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg has won 30 games in four of the last five seasons. The Lions also won 29 games during the pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign.

- Parks finished 2-for-3 with a walk, six RBI, and a run scored in game one.

- Irizarry was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in the opener. 

- Henn went 2-for-5 with two runs, an RBI, and four stolen bases in the first outing.

- Lehner was the fourth player to have a multi-hit opening contest.

- The Lions stole a dozen bases in game one. 

- Parks finished 3-for-3 with two walks, three RBI, and a run scored in game two.

- Waltimyer went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs, and an RBI in the second game.

- Hite was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three runs, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases in the nightcap. 

- Henn and Floyd scored two runs apiece in the second contest.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions wrap up the regular season with a single game at Penn State Abington on Friday afternoon. 

STAY CONNECTED

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