Doyle Walkoff homer
Tyler Schueck
2
Salisbury SAL 26-12
5
Winner Penn State Berks PSBM 24-12
Salisbury SAL
26-12
2
Final
5
Penn State Berks PSBM
24-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Salisbury SAL 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
Penn State Berks PSBM 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 5 11 2

W: Reis, Zach (3-3) L: Shockley (3-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Doyle smashes 3-run walkoff in extras to down No. 10 ranked Salisbury

MOOSIC, PA - Alex Doyle unleashed a monster three-run home run to right center field for a walk-off 5-2 victory in 12 innings over No. 10 ranked Salisbury University in an elimination game of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament at PNC Field.

Dylen Ziegler pitched 4.1 effective innings to start the game, allowing three hits and one earned run. Zach Reis, who came in to pitch the final 7.2 innings of the game, turned in his finest outing of the season with just one run allowed to earn the victory.

The Nittany Lions (24-12) squandered scoring opportunities the extra frames, with a baserunner left on second base in the 10th and runners left on the corners in the 11th. In the 12th inning, John McGarvey led off with a single to left field and advanced all the way to third base on a single to right center field by Toby Welk. The Seagulls (26-12) played the infield in and the second basemen made a nice play on a sharp grounder to just get McGarvey at the plate for the first out in the inning. Doyle, who struck out with a runner in scoring position to end the 10th inning, came to the plate and found himself behind in the count at 1-2. But the senior first basemen quickly redeemed himself by delivering a towering drive beyond the fence that caused the entire Berks cheering section into a craze. The players stormed out of the dugout and surrounded home plate, the parents jumped around and screamed, and Doyle made his trip around the bases with a smile from ear-to-ear.

The strong pitching down the stretch by Reis continued to place the Nittany Lions in a great situation to go for the win. The junior right-hander only allowed one baserunner over the final four innings of the game. Reis, however, did receive some amazing help from the defense behind him. In the top of the 10th inning, Welk made a leaping catch to snag a would-be double down the line into the first out of the inning. The next batter delivered a deep fly to left field, but Luke Erb chased it down and caught it as he crashed into the outfield wall for the second out. Not to be outdone, Cory Fox made a diving catch in center for the final out of the inning.

Salisbury was five outs away from sending the Nittany Lions packing as they led 2-1 with one down in the bottom of the eighth. McGarvey was able to work a walk and moved up to second on a single by Welk. Dalton Hughes, who got the start in right field, delivered a game tying single down the left field line to bring McGarvey in from second base.

Earlier in the game, the Seagulls were able to jump out to a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning and they held that lead until the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Nick Zipay was hit by pitch and then stole second to get into scoring position. Luke Erb flew out to deep right field to allow Zipay to tag up to third base. Senior Tom Grablewski then drove in Zipay with a line drive in front of the right fielder.

Ziegler got the call as the starter on Friday morning after showing what he was capable of against the Seagulls strong offense earlier in the season. The sophomore left-hander had pitched well through 2.1 innings in a game the Nittany Lions led 2-0 that was suspended in the middle of play and never made up. Ziegler again kept the Salisbury offense at bay by hitting spots with his fastball and working in off speed pitches.

Reis improved to 3-3 on the year with his season-high 7.2 innings of work. He was able to keep the ball down in the zone and forced 12 fly outs by the opposition.

Welk went 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Hughes finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Doyle's homer was his 3rd of the season, which ties Mcgarvey and Welk for the team lead.

With the win, the Nittany Lions will play in an elimination game tonight against the winner of Haverford College and Kean University.

 
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