Baseball team huddle at NCAA 2017
Tyler Schueck
8
Penn State Berks PSBM 20-20
9
Winner UMass Boston UMB 34-10
Penn State Berks PSBM
20-20
8
Final
9
UMass Boston UMB
34-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Penn State Berks PSBM 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 8 13 1
UMass Boston UMB 1 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 9 14 1

W: Kaufman (3-0) L: Comport, Tyler (4-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball rallies to force extras, before falling 9-8 to Beacons in NCAA opener

HARWICH, MASS - The Penn State Berks baseball team rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to force extra innings before suffering a 9-8 setback in 10 innings to nationally ranked and top-seed UMass Boston in the NCAA Regional Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Whitehouse Field.

The Nittany Lions (20-20) got the late game rally started with a leadoff single by Zach Reis through the left side of the infield. Reis was lifted for pinch runner Mason Pennypacker, who later advanced to third on a one-out double over the left fielders head by John McGarvey. Brandon Griesemer followed with a single up the middle to bring home Pennypacker and cut the Beacons lead to 8-6. With runners on first and third, Seth Endy lined out to shortstop, but the fielder threw the ball away trying to double up Griesemer at first, which allowed McGarvey to score from third and pull Berks within one run. Troy Salerno followed with a single to center field to put Griesemer into scoring position. Cory Fox then delivered a two-out line drive single into center field to bring in Griesemer with the tying run.

In the bottom half of the ninth, Tyler Comport moved from right field to pitcher. The leadoff batter drew a walk, but was immediately erased from the base path's when the sacrifice bunt attempt came back to Comport, who turned and got the force out at second base. Comport got the next batter to fly out to right, before a walk put runners on first and second. Comport got out of the jam with a fly out to right field to end the inning.

Austin Madeja singled back up through the middle with one out and stole second base with two outs on the board to get into scoring position in the top of the 10th, but the Beacons got out of the inning with the game still tied.

In the bottom of the 10th, Comport struck off the first batter of the inning looking, before a walk and single to left put runners on first and second. The next batter moved both runners up a base with a groundout to first. The next batter sent a ball down the left field line that just hung on stay fair to give UMB the winning tally.

The Beacons, who enter tournament ranked No. 21/22 in the nation, got on the board first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first.

Berks was set down in order with the first seven batters of the game, but Endy got the offense going with a bunt single down the third base line with one out in the top of the third. Salerno followed with a walk, but the Beacons starting pitcher got a pair of infield fly outs to escape the jam.

In the next inning, Toby Welk led off with a single up the middle and Zach Reis followed with an infield single and Comport loaded the bases with a bunt single. After a strike out, Griesemer sent a sharp grounder through the middle to score Welk and Reis that put Berks ahead 2-1. Endy drew a walk to load the bases back up and Salerno was plunked with a pitch to force in another run and give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 advantage.

Berks got back to work in the fifth with back-to-back walks to Welk and Reis to start the inning. After a pitching change, Comport loaded up the bases with a sacrifice bunt that was placed perfectly for a bunt single. McGarvey was walked to force in Welk and Griesemer added a sacrifice fly to center to score Reis, bringing Berks ahead 5-1.

In the bottom of fifth, the Beacons tallied seven runs to jump out to an 8-5 lead. The score stayed that way until the top of the ninth when Berks was able to rally.

Dylan Gallagher got the start on the mound and went 4.1 innings until running into trouble in the fifth. Mitch Renninger then threw 3.2 innings of one-hit relief, with two strikeouts to keep Berks in contention. Comport then tossed the final 2.1 innings of the game.

Griesemer finished the game 2-for-4 with a season-high four RBI, while Endy, Reis, and Comport both recorded two hits. Reis and Welk both scored twice for Berks.

Berks will look to rebound against No. 4 seed Salve Regina University in an elimination game on Friday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m.
 
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