Scranton Lions Fall in Doubleheader to Penn State York

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a Saturday afternoon celebrating a special Bark in the Park day with some adorable puppies at Matt McGloin Field, the Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad dropped both ends of their home doubleheader against conference rival Penn State York by the scores of 15-1 and 13-3 respectively. With the pair of losses, Scranton sees their overall record move to 7-17 and 0-8 in the all-important league play schedule.

In the game one five inning affair, the road warriors from York scored early and often as they cruised to their dominant 15-1 triumph. York tallied four runs in the top half of the first inning, a run in the third, and an awe-inspiring 10 spot in the fifth and final frame to ensure victory. The Lions from Scranton picked up their only run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning to avoid the dreaded shutout on offense. Overall York out hit Scranton by a robust 14-0 margin in the matchup.

Despite being no-hit in the ball game, Scranton was able to manufacture a run in the fourth when junior center fielder Garrett Walsh drove home freshman shortstop Alex Pagotto, who reached base via the walk, on a nice RBI groundout deep in the hole at shortstop to get his club on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to a manageable 5-1 at the time.

Meanwhile, York had an impressive quartet of players who put up multi-hit performances in the showdown, as sophomore first baseman Ryan Schubert, freshman third baseman Andrew Miller, sophomore designated hitter Quinton McNew, and freshman center fielder Colin Eckinger led the way on offense. Schubert was a perfect 3-3 at the plate, crushing a three run home run over the left field fence in the fifth inning, ripping a double as well, driving in a game-high six runs, walked once, and scored three times. Miller went 2-4 at the dish, scoring a pair of runs, picked up an RBI, and stole a base to boot. McNew also was 2-4, with a run scored, and an RBI. Last but certainly not least, Eckinger was a flawless 2-2, walking once, scored a run, collected an RBI, and stole a base for good measure.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton's senior ace hurler Mark Longo got the start on the mound and picked up the loss, tossing a gritty 4 and 1/3 innings and fanned four York batters on the day. Freshman right-hander Alex Ferguson came in relief out of the bullpen and finished the game up for the hometown Lions by throwing 2/3 of an inning, allowing a trio of hits, one earned run, no walks, and struck out a batter in his appearance. Meanwhile, York had sophomore righty Jason Williams toe the slab for their club and he earned the complete game victory on the bump, tossing a dazzling five innings, giving up no hits, walked only one, surrendered one earned run, and had three strikeouts in his commanding start.

In the game two nightcap six inning affair, the York Lions once again slugged their way to another big win, this time by a 13-3 margin. After a scoreless first inning, York put up consecutive six spots in the second and third frames, and added one more for good measure in the top of the sixth to ensure their 10 run triumph. Just like in game one, Scranton scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, this time scoring a trio in the highly productive frame. Overall Scranton was out hit by a 15-5 margin in the contest.

Scranton's runs all came off the powerful bat of sophomore Zach Benson who drilled a mammoth three run homer over the left field wall in the fourth inning. The Lions other base hits came from Pagotto who laced a double, freshman catcher Guy Mushow who walked and showed his speed by beating out an infield single, Longo who went 1-2, walked, and scored a run, and lastly, freshman first baseman Thomas McIntyre who singled and scored once.

On the York side of things, they had a whopping five players with multi-hit ball games, as freshman left fielder Eli Weigle, senior shortstop John "JP" Dyson, sophomore third baseman Blake Adkins, freshman center fielder Camden Flinchbaugh, and Miller set the pace on offense for their team. Weigle led the way going a perfect 3-3 at the plate, walking once, and scored a run. Dyson was 2-4 at the dish, raking a three run home run to left field in the top of the second inning, scored a pair of runs, and drove in three. Adkins also went 2-4, walked once, scored a run, and tallied two RBI. Flinchbaugh was a flawless 2-2 and scored once. Finally, Miller was a solid 2-3, smashing a double, drove in a pair, and scored a run in the battle.

In the pitching department, Scranton started sophomore team captain Mike DeWolfe on the mound and he picked up the loss, tossing a tough trio of innings and striking out a pair of York batters on the day. Benson came out of the pen to relieve DeWolfe and pitched a quality hat trick of innings, only allowing one earned run, two walks, three base hits, and struck out a batter in his outing. Meanwhile, York started senior right-hander Carter Williams on the hill and he earned the victory, tossing all six innings, giving up just three earned runs, a trio of bases on balls, five hits, and fanned a robust nine Scranton batters in his stellar complete game effort.

Now second-year head coach Collin Ferguson and his 7-17 Penn State Scranton baseball squad will look to bounce back and snap their four game losing streak when they next go on the road this Tuesday night under the lights to face off with non-conference foe the University of Valley Forge Patriots in a single, nine inning game, with first pitch scheduled for a 6pm start. Meanwhile, head coach Todd Meckley and his Penn State York ball club, who with these pair of victories over Scranton sees their overall record improve to 10-6 and a lights out 7-1 in crucial league play, will look to extend their four game winning streak when they host a doubleheader against non-conference foe Central Penn this Tuesday afternoon beginning at 2pm.