Yaphank, NY- The Penn St. Berks Baseball team set the program record for home runs in a single game in the opening game with the College at Old Westbury on Saturday, March 1. The Lions dropped both highly competitive match-ups, falling 13-12 in the opener and 5-4 in the nightcap.
 
Berks (1-3 Overall) got off to a fast start, loading the bases in the top of the first inning. Isaiah Dull blasted a double into left field, driving in two runs. The Lions added on to their lead in the top of the second inning. With a runner on second, Logan Ewert smacked an RBI double into left field. Andrew Seibert then stepped to the plate, belting his first career home run, a two-run shot making the score 5-0. The Panthers (2-0 Overall) answered back, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning to level the score at five.
 
The Lions briefly recaptured the lead in the top of the fourth inning, when Dull blasted a solo home run. Old Westbury matched the run, scoring in the bottom of the inning. The offense continued rolling in the top of the sixth inning. Berks placed runners on first and second for Peter DePolo III. The freshman crushed his first career home run, a three-run blast that made the score 9-6. Once again, the Panthers responded, erupting to score six runs in the bottom of the inning and held a 12-9 advantage.
 
Berks needed to rally in the top of the 7^th inning to keep the game going and force extra innings. Cade Baumgardner started the inning with a bang, blasting his first career home run and cutting the deficit down to two. Landon Eyster kept the first coming, rocketing his first career home run, cutting the deficit down to one. Later in the inning, Seibert knocked his second home run of the game over the fence, leveling the score at 12. Old Westbury hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 7^th inning, walking off with the 13-12 victory.
 
The Lions set a program record for home runs in single game, blasting six balls over the fence. Seibert hit two home runs, finishing the game 3-5 with 3 RBIs. Isaiah Dull also racked up three RBIs, going 3-4 with two runs scored. Jensen Chesnut and Ewert each recorded a pair of hits.
 
The Blue & White reset for the second game of the doubleheader, striking first in the top of the third inning. Nicholas Buchman singled through the left side and then worked himself into scoring position. Eyster hit a chopper on the right side, allowing Buchman to score. Berks added another run in the fifth inning. With Buchman again in scoring position, Eyster this time lined a double into right center field, plating the run. The Panthers scored twice in the sixth inning, to even the score at two.

The game, which was scheduled for seven innings, remained tied going into extra innings. Eyster led off the eighth inning with a bunt single and then Ewert reached base on an error, putting runners on the corners. A failed pickoff attempt allowed Eyster to score and Ewert to move into scoring position. Dull extended the Lions lead, hammering a double down the left field line, scoring Ewert to give Berks a 4-2 lead. Old Westbury answered back, scoring three runs in the home half of the inning to secure the 5-4 victory.
 
Eyster and Dull powered the Lions offense in game two, each collecting a pair of hits. Buchman scored twice, going 1-2 with a walk. Starter Jacob Crisler had a solid outing, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four Panthers.
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will continue their New York trip, traveling to face SUNY Plattsburgh on Sunday, Mar. 2^nd.

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