Scranton Lions Baseball Falls to Valley Forge 

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics 

On a Tuesday night under the lights at the Maple Zone, the visiting Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad dropped a 20-11 single, nine inning contest to non-conference foe the University of Valley Forge Patriots. With the defeat, Scranton sees their overall record move to 7-18 and their all-important conference mark stays put at 0-8 heading into a big weekend series in league play. 

The hometown Valley Forge ball club scored early and often in the mutual slugfest, as they tallied five runs in the bottom half of the first inning, one in the second, a four spot in the third, five more in the fourth, one in the fifth, a couple in the sixth, and a pair in the seventh frame, as they cruised to their nine run triumph. Meanwhile, the road warrior Lions from Scranton roared back and had an explosive offense as well, as they scored a run in the top of the fourth, a trio in the sixth, a four spot in the eighth, and three more in the ninth and final frame to account for their robust 11 runs scored in the matchup. Scranton actually out hit Valley Forge at game's end by a 13-11 margin.  

Scranton had an awe-inspiring five players put up stalwart multi-hit performances on the day, as sophomore infielder Zach Benson, fellow sophomore and team captain Mike DeWolfe, freshman shortstop Alex Pagotto, and freshmen outfielders Ryan Vinton and Ryan Notari set the pace for their team. Benson led the way going 3-5 at the plate, crushing a pair of doubles, scoring a run, and driving home three. DeWolfe went 2-4 at the dish, walking twice, scoring two times, collected an RBI, and stole a base to boot. Pagotto was 2-5, scored a run, and swiped a bag. Vinton went 2-5, drilling a double, stole a pair of bases, scored a run, and drove home two. Last but certainly not least, Nortari was 2-4, cranking a double, and tallied a run. 

Meanwhile, Valley Forge who also showed lots of patience at the plate by walking a robust 15 times in the showdown, had a hat trick of players put up impressive multi-hit ball games. Freshman center fielder Elijah Behan led the way going a near perfect 3-4 at the dish, walked twice, scored three times, and drove in a pair. Sophomore designated hitter Colin Orndorff was 2-3, scored a run, and had a trio of RBI. Finally, junior left fielder Kaden Gonzales also went 2-3, with two bases on balls, scored twice, and knock in a run. 

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started DeWolfe on the mound and he took the loss, tossing the first inning, allowing five earned runs, a pair of hits, four walks, and struck out one. Freshman Alex Ferguson came in relief out of the bullpen and threw two innings, giving up five earned runs, a quartet of hits, and walked just one batter. Next, sophomore hurler Raphael Carvalho came in and pitched an inning, surrendering five earned runs, two base hits, walked four, and fanned a hitter. Sophomore Javier Rivera pitched the next three innings, allowing five earned runs, a trio of hits, five bases on balls, and struck out three in his outing. Lastly, senior ace Mark Longo tossed the final inning for his club, allowing no runs or hits, walked just one, and struck out a hitter in his solid appearance. Meanwhile, Valley Forge had freshman Mike O'Rourke toe the slab first and he earned the victory on the bump, tossing five dazzling innings, only allowing one earned run, seven hits, no walks, and fanned four Scranton batters in his quality start. Fellow freshman Eric Reinhart came in relief first out of the pen and he threw an inning, giving up a pair of earned runs, walked two, allowed two hits, and struck out two in his appearance. Sophomore Jack Qualteria then threw a shutout inning, surrendering no hits or walks, and fanned two. Junior James Mock went just a 1/3 of an inning, allowing four earned runs, a hat trick of base hits, and walked two. Finally, to end the long day of baseball festivities, sophomore Kyron Baker finished up the game tossing the last 1 2/3 innings, giving up a hit, two earned runs, two bases on balls, and struck out a trio of Scranton batters. 

Now second-year head coach Collin Ferguson and his 7-18 Penn State Scranton baseball squad will look to snap their five game losing skid when they next host a crucial conference battle against rival Penn State Schuylkill this Friday afternoon, with first pitch for the doubleheader and expected hot summer-like weather to kick-off at 2pm. Meanwhile, head coach Joe Clancy and his 11-13 Valley Forge baseball team, 3-6 in league play, will look to continue their winning ways when they next go on the road to face off against conference juggernaut, the formidable Keystone College Giants, with the single, nine inning affair beginning on Friday at 3pm.