MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team opened the United East Championship Tournament with a convincing 20-2 victory over Lancaster Bible on Thursday afternoon, May 11.
Maddux Ryan was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI, while Brendan Henn and Matt Parks each went yard. Fisher Druck earned the win, allowing just one run and striking out nine batters in six innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State Harrisburg (31-10) scored multiple runs in five innings of the team's 20-2 win over Lancaster Bible (16-24) on the first day of the United East Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
The Lions struck first when Brendan Henn launched a solo home run over the fence in left center field that landed on top of the batter's cage in the top of the opening frame but the visitors drew even in the top of the third when Blake Greenly hit a solo shot of his own.
The tournament's top seed responded in a big way in the bottom of the third, however, putting up four runs on four hits, including a Drew Bechtold two-out, two-RBI single to center field. Penn State Harrisburg went back to work in the bottom of the fourth and tacked on three more runs thanks to two walks, a pair of hits, a sac fly, and a passed ball.
After the Chargers got the lead-off man aboard in the fifth, Fisher Druck erased the threat by inducing a ground ball to Blaine Waltimyer at third who turned a double play with Henn at second and Maddux Ryan at first. The bats stayed hot in the bottom half, with the Lions using three more hits, a walk, a hit by pitch, and another sac fly to push the advantage to 12-1 after five.
Matt Parks added to the cushion with a three-run blast to right field in the sixth and the Lions added two more before the inning was through. The defense turned another 5-4-3 double play in the seventh and while Lancaster Bible got one back in the eighth, the home team added some insurance with an RBI single from Josh Lantz and a two-RBI double from Joe Licolli in the bottom half.
Ryan Sawyer spelled fellow reliever Sam Thompson and retired the Chargers in order in the top of the ninth to seal the postseason win for Penn State Harrisburg.
NOTABLES
- The Lions were patient at the plate, working 10 walks in the win.
- Druck improved to 8-0 on the season after striking out nine and allowing just one run in six innings thrown.
- Ryan finished 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored.
- Henn went 3-for-4 with a home run, four runs scored, and an RBI.
- Parks was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two walks, three RBI, and three runs.
- Dallas Hite went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored.
- Carlos Irizarry drove in three runs and Lehner scored three times.
- Thompson struck out four batters and allowed just one run in two innings of relief.
- Sawyer closed things out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions will face Penn State Abington on Friday afternoon with a spot in Saturday's United East Championship Game on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.