WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - No. 19/22 Penn State Harrisburg opened its weekend series against United East foe Penn College with a 10-0 shutout victory in seven innings at historic Bowman Field on Friday afternoon, April 26.
The Lions (29-7, 13-0 United East) needed just four hits to reach double figures, thanks in part to 10 walks and three errors from Penn College (17-19, 5-8 United East). Drew Sassaman drove in two runs and Brendan Henn scored two more. Danny Eden earned the win on the mound, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State Harrisburg began to take charge in the bottom of the second with a patient approach, working six walks to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Kevin Lehner and Dallas HIte also put the ball in play and were rewarded with RBIs during the momentum-shifting half inning.
The Lions added another in the fourth when Sassaman and Henn executed a double steal, forcing an errant throw and allowing the former to come across. After Eden worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to keep the Wildcats off the board, the visitors tacked on two more when Blaine Waltimyer's aggressive base running paid off on a throwing error that allowed him to score from third. A Sassaman RBI groundout drove in Josh Lantz later in the frame to make it 8-0.
Demetre Koutras II and Waltimyer accounted for the game's final runs when the former plated Joe Licolli with a double in the seventh before Waltimyer's sac fly drove in Koutras two at bats later. In the bottom half, reliever Sam Thompson induced a ground ball that led to a game-ending ground rule double play.
NOTABLES
- The victory was Penn State Harrisburg's 10th in a row.
- Eden improved to 6-1 on the year, throwing five scoreless innings and allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts.
- Thompson allowed just two hits in two scoreless innings of relief.
- The Lions stole four bases on the day.
- Sassaman drove in two runs.
- Henn walked twice and scored a pair of runs.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions complete the regular season with a doubleheader at Penn College on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.