Myrtle Beach, SC- The Penn St. Berks Baseball team picked up their first win on their spring break trip downing Penn St. Hazleton by a score of 15-4 on Tuesday, March 12. The Lions dropped the nightcap to New Jersey City University by a score of 10-7.
The Lions (2-7 Overall) wasted no time, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Isaiah Dull lined a single into center field, bringing home a run. Logan Ewert kept the scoring going, driving another single into center field that score a run. Brendan Altman tacked on another run, hitting a sharp ground ball that allowed a run to score. The Lions added another run in the top of the third inning, when Altman laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Dull to score.
After Hazleton (1-5 Overall) scored in the bottom of third inning, Berks looked to tried to answer back in the top of the fourth inning. Cade Baumgardner crushed a solo homerun over the right field wall.
The advantage continued to grow in the fifth inning. Ewert doubled off the left center field fence allowing Dull to score. Later in the inning, Ewert swiped third base and then scored on errand throw, making the score 7-1. Berks tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a 2 RBI triple from Landon Eyster. Hazelton answered back scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 10-3. The Lions used a five-run eighth inning to halt any comeback attempt, eventually earning. a 15-4 victory.
On the mound, Landon Eyster earned his first win of the season, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out six. Reyes powered the Lions offense, going 2-5 with two triples, driving in three RBIs and scoring three times. Dull was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Nick Hardesty and Altman each collected a pair of RBIs.
The Lions then took on New Jersey City University in a rematch from earlier in the week, and they quickly found themselves in a hole as the Gothic Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead. Berks answered back, scoring in the home half of the inning. Eyster led off by cracking a double into left field. The Lions would then load the bases for Dull, who reached on a fielder's choice that allowed a run to score. Ewert then drew a walk, plating the second run of the inning. Peter DePolo III drove a single up the middle, scoring two more runs to give Berks a 4-3 advantage. Berks extended their advantage in the second inning when Dull crushed a two-run home run over the right field fence.
NJCU answered back, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning to level the score at six. Two more runs by the Gothic Knights in the fourth gave them an 8-6 lead. Berks chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Three batters were hit by pitches, loading the bases for the Lions. DePolo came through again, recording an RBI single that made the score 8-7. Berks would get no closer as NJCU scored in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the 10-7 victory.
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will conclude their spring break trip by taking on Bridgewater St. University on Wednesday, March 12. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:00 AM.
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