Central Penn Sweeps Doubleheader Against Scranton

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Matt McGloin Field, the hometown Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad dropped both ends of their doubleheader against non-conference foe Central Penn by the scores of 18-2 and 8-5 respectively. With the pair of defeats, Scranton now sees their overall record go to 7-24 and their all-important league mark stays at 0-12 with only four games remaining in the 2023 regular season campaign.

In the game one five inning affair, Central Penn scored early and often, as they tallied a quartet of runs in the top half of the first, a robust eight spot in the second, five more in the third, and one more for good measure in the fifth frame, as they cruised to their dominant 18-2 road triumph. The Lions from Scranton were able to avoid the dreaded shutout on offense by scoring a couple of runs in the bottom half of the third inning to get on the scoreboard. Scranton was out hit by a 13-3 margin in the opening contest and their opponent also showed tremendous patience at the plate by drawing 12 walks.

Scranton's base knocks came off the bat of sophomore third baseman and team captain Mike DeWolfe, freshman shortstop Alex Pagotto, and senior Justin Craigg. DeWolfe went 1-2 at the dish and hammered a two run triple in the third inning to drive home both Pagotto and Craigg. Pagotto was 1-3 and Craigg was a perfect 1-1, each crossing home once for their squad.

Meanwhile, the road warriors from Central Penn had a hat trick of players put up impressive multi-hit performances, as freshman right fielder Harvey McClain III, junior third baseman Zach Boyer, and fellow junior, first baseman Justin Miller set the pace for their club. McClain III was 2-4 at the plate, crushed a solo home run in the top of the third, scored a pair, and had a trio of RBI. Boyer went 2-3, scored once, knocked in two runs, and stole a base to boot. Last but certainly not least, Miller was a flawless 2-2 at the dish, walked once, scored a couple of runs, and had two RBI.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started Craigg on the mound and he took the loss, throwing 1 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs, seven hits, a trio of bases on balls, and struck out a batter. Freshman hurler Alex Ferguson came in relief out of the bullpen for 2/3 of an inning, giving up eight earned runs, four base hits, and walked five. Sophomore Raphael Carvalho came in relief next tossing a pair of innings, surrendering three earned runs, a couple of hits, a quartet of walks, and fanned a hitter. Lastly, sophomore Zach Benson tossed the final inning of the battle, giving up no runs, walks, or hits in his solid appearance. Meanwhile, Central Penn had junior hurler Zavier Hernandez toe the slab first for his squad and earned the victory on the bump, throwing a rock solid four innings, giving up just a pair of earned runs, a hat trick of hits, walked no one, and struck out a robust nine Scranton batters in his commanding start. Junior Adam Hoover came in relief to throw the final inning for his club, allowing no runs, hits, or walks, and struck out a hitter.

In the game two nightcap seven inning affair, Scranton got off to a hot start at the plate tallying four runs in the bottom half of the first and one more in the fifth to take a 5-3 advantage going into the sixth frame. However, Central Penn would come roaring back scoring four runs in the top of the sixth and one in the seventh and final inning to complete the impressive three run, 8-5 comeback road triumph. Overall Scranton was out hit by a 12-8 margin in the hard fought contest.

Scranton was led on offense with the dynamic duo of freshman outfielder Ryan Vinton and Benson who put up stellar multi-hit ball games. Vinton was 2-4 at the dish, drilling a triple, scored a run, and collected an RBI. Benson also was 2-4 at the plate, ripping a double, scored once, and drove one home. The Lions other base knocks came from Craigg, who was 1-3 and had a game-high three RBI, freshman Guy Mushow was 1-3 and tallied a run, senior Mark Longo was 1-3 and stole a base, and DeWolfe was 1-4, scored once, and swiped a bag.

Meanwhile, Central Penn had the superb combo of freshman shortstop Nathan Wise and Boyer who led the way with their trio of hits in the nightcap. Wise went 3-4, cranked a double, stole a base, and scored twice. Boyer also was 3-4, with a sweet double, scored a run, and drove home a pair.

In the pitching department, Scranton started their ace, Longo, on the mound and he tossed three solid innings, allowing a trio of earned runs, seven base hits, walked no one, and fanned a hat trick of batters. Freshman hurler Thomas McIntyre came in relief out of the pen and took the loss on the hill, as he threw a couple of innings, giving up three earned runs, a couple of hits, and two bases on balls. Finally, Mushow finished up the long day of baseball festivities by throwing the final two frames, surrendering a couple of earned runs, a trio of hits, walked a pair, and struck out a hitter. Meanwhile, Central Penn started junior Zachary Haefner and he earned the complete game victory on the bump, tossing all seven innings, allowing five earned runs, eight base hits, walked just one, and fanned a quartet of Scranton batters in his quality outing.

Now second-year head coach Collin Ferguson and his 7-24 Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad will look to bounce back and snap their 11 game losing streak when they next host their final two games on their home turf in a big conference Senior Day doubleheader against rival Penn State Hazleton this Friday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2pm. Meanwhile, head coach Robert Stern and his Central Penn baseball team, who with their pair of victories over Scranton see their overall record improve to 15-14 and their 4-2 in league play, will look to extend their red hot eight game winning streak when they next host non-conference foe Penn State Wilkes-Barre for a doubleheader under the lights this Friday night starting at 5pm.