LANCASTER, PA (April 7, 2011) – Ryan Tantala pitched a nine-inning complete game in a 4-2 win in the opener and four pitchers combined on a two hit, 4-0 shutout in the nightcap for a non-conference sweep over Lancaster Bible on Thursday afternoon.
Tantala earned his first win of the season on the mound for the Nittany Lions (10-11). The freshman right-hander set season high's with his nine innings pitched and six strikeouts. Tantala scattered seven hits and two earned runs in the opening inning were his only blemish. He retired 11 batters in order, spanning from the fourth through eighth innings.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth, Tylor Vosburgh singled to get the Berks rally started. Michael Ference followed with a single and Tyler Page was intentionally walked to juice the bases. A fielder's choice by Anthony Furillo scored the first run and an error added the tying run.
In the ninth, pinch hitter Kevin Heilman walked and Aaron Wilkins singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Geraldo Garcia drove in Heilman for the go-ahead with his third hit of the game. Kyle Hartman then drove in Wilkins with a double, giving the Lions a two run cushion.
Will Geosits and Wilkins each had two of the Lions 12 hits.
Colby Hendrix, David Loose, Corey Jackson and Brent Rhoads pitched Berks past the Chargers (9-12) in the second game pitcher's duel. Hendrix struck out three batters and didn't allow a hit over the first two innings. Loose earned his first win of the season with two innings of one-hit ball. Jackson followed with two hitless innings and Rhoads struck out the side in seventh to finish off the game.
The Lions did all their scoring in the first two innings, despite only totaling three hits and four walks for the game. Wilkins walked and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher trying to get Jerel Elliot at first. Elliot then scored on a wild pitch to put the Nittany Lions up 2-0.
Zach Guiles singled, Ryan Zawaski walked and Garcia loaded the bases with a single. Wilkins reached on a fielder's choice to score Guiles and Elliot had a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Zawaski.
The Nittany Lions will return to conference play with a pair of doubleheaders at SUNY Cobleskill (Saturday) and SUNYIT (Sunday). The start time on both days is set for 1 p.m.
