Scranton Lions Sweep Twin Bill with Wilkes-Barre 

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics 

On Friday the rain finally stopped in the electric city and the Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad heated up by winning both ends of their home doubleheader against local conference rival Penn State Wilkes-Barre by an 11-1 margin in game one and a 13-1 dominant triumph in the nightcap. With these victorious efforts, Scranton improves their overall record to 9-16 and they are now 3-7 in their crucial league play schedule.  

In the opening contest, the Lions from Scranton roared scoring early and often, as they tallied a run in the bottom half of the first inning, two more in the second, one in the fourth, a big four spot in the fifth, and added three more for good measure to account for their robust 11 run offensive scoring explosion at the plate. Meanwhile, the visitors from Wilkes-Barre managed to score their lone run of the ball game in the top half of the fourth inning to avoid the dreaded shutout. Scranton out hit Wilkes-Barre by a 9-4 margin in the battle. 

Scranton had the dynamic duo of freshman first baseman Logan Moss and sophomore pitcher Donald Healey put up impressive multi-hit performances to lead the way for their squad. Moss went 2-4 at the dish, drilling two home runs, scoring three times, and drove in a game-high four runs. Healey was 2-3, smashing a homer and a double, scored a run, and had a stalwart three RBI in the showdown.  

Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre was held to just four base hits in the matchup, as second baseman Enai Fernandez, shortstop Joey Polanowski, center fielder Jakob Baltrusaitis, and first baseman Ethan Bechel each tallied a hit apiece. Baltrusaitis' hit was a solid RBI triple to drive home Polanowski in the top of the fourth frame to account for his club's only run of the ball game. 

On the pitching side of things, Scranton's right-handed hurler Healey earned the complete game victory on the mound, tossing a dazzling six innings, only giving up one earned run, a quartet of hits, walked no one, and fanned six batters. Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre started Kevin Rivera on the bump who took the loss, as he threw five innings, gave up seven earned runs, eight hits, walked no one, and struck out four Scranton hitters. Zachary Chamberlain wrapped up the festivities on the mound coming in relief out of the bullpen, going 2/3 of an inning, allowing a trio of earned runs, one hit, and walked one.  

In the game two nightcap, Scranton's powerful offense continued to set the pace, as they tallied a huge six spot in the bottom of the first inning, a hat trick of runs in the second, one in the fourth, and three more runs for good measure in the fifth frame to account for the overwhelming 13 runs they scored in the battle. Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre scored their lone run in the contest once again in the top half of the fourth inning to avoid the dreaded shutout. Scranton out hit Wilkes-Barre by a commanding 11-4 margin in the battle.  

Scranton had four players with stellar multi-hit showings in the nightcap, as Moss, junior third baseman Mike DeWolfe, Healey, and freshman right fielder Jacob Karsnak led the way for their squad. Moss continued his terrific hitting from game one in the second game, going a perfect 3-3 at the dish, walked once, tallied a pair of runs, and had an RBI to boot. DeWolfe was 2-3, hammering a double, drew a walk, and scored a hat trick of runs. Healey was unstoppable once again, going a near flawless 3-4 at the plate, crushing another home run, scoring three times, and driving in a game-high five runs. Last but certainly not least, Karnsak was a perfect 2-2, drilling a nice double, stole a base, tallied a trio of runs, and had an RBI. The Lions other base hit came off the bat of freshman second baseman Tyler Kopec who went 1-3, swiped a bag, scored a run, and drove home a pair. 

Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre's four hits came from right fielder/catcher Andrew Mentzer, Baltrusaitis, left fielder Walter Ninotti, and catcher Chris Coyne. Baltrusaitis drove home his club's only run of the nightcap, just like in the first game, with an RBI single to score Mentzer in the top of the fourth frame. 

On the pitching side of things, Scranton freshman righty Braden Savage earned the complete game victory on the mound, tossing five sparkling innings, giving up just one earned run, four hits, walked no one, and fanned a quartet of batters in his dominant outing. Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre had Michael Volker start on the bump who took the loss, as he threw just one inning, allowed six earned runs, four base hits, and walked four on the day. Finally, Matthew Mager came in relief and threw the last 3 1/3 innings of the contest, also giving up six earned runs, seven hits, walked one, and struck out one Scranton batter in his appearance.  

Now third-year head coach Collin Ferguson and his 9-16 Penn State Scranton Lions baseball team will look to continue their victorious ways and extend their two game winning streak when they go on the road to face off with Penn State Wilkes-Barre once again this Sunday for a doubleheader, with first pitch slated for a 1pm start time.