SELINSGROVE, Pa. – No. 19/22 Penn State Harrisburg secured its eighth straight win in impressive fashion, cruising to a 14-0 shutout victory at Susquehanna on Tuesday afternoon.
As a group, Penn State Harrisburg pitchers allowed just one hit on the day, led by Aidan Bergholc's stellar start that saw him throw six scoreless innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts. At the plate, Carlos Irizarry, Brendan Henn, Blaine Waltimyer, and Bill Zentmayer all had three-hit games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions (27-7) jumped all over Susquehanna (16-18) in the top of the first, scoring three runs on four hits to begin the game, including Kevin Lehner's RBI single that drove in Henn and Drew Sassaman, as well as Zentmayer's two-out, RBI double.
Bergholc retired the River Hawks in order in the bottom of the first and the visitors went back to work in the second, doubling the lead when Irizarry sliced a home run down the left field line that brought Henn and Drew Bechtold around to score with him. After SU recorded its only hit of the game in the bottom half, Bergholc wouldn't allow another base runner until the fifth stanza.
Penn State Harrisburg tacked on another run in the top of the fifth when Waltimyer doubled, allowing Zentmayer to score from first base following an error on the relay throw home. Bergholc exited after striking out three batters in the sixth and Caiden Ertter picked up where he left off, keeping the home team off the board in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
After a pair of scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh frames, the Lions roared back to life with four innings in the eighth and three more in the ninth for good measure before Sam Thompson racked up three strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth to wrap up the dominant win.
NOTABLES
- Bergholc allowed just one hit and two walks in six scoreless innings. He struck out 10 in his second win of the season.
- The Lions racked up 19 total hits, including six extra-base knocks.
- Waltimyer went 3-for-5 with three doubles, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored.
- Irizarry was 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, and a run scored.
- Zentmayer finished 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.
- Lehner increased his team-leading RBI total to 47 on the season.
- Ryan Turner, Braeden Piotrowski, and Chris Catania also drove in runs.
- Ertter and Thompson combined for six strikeouts in three innings of relief.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions face another tough non-conference test when they travel to Shenandoah on Wednesday 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.