Reading, PA- The Penn St. Berks Baseball Team split a United East doubleheader with Saint Elizabeth University on Saturday, Mach 22. The Lions took game one 8-7 before falling in game two by a score of 13-3.
 
The Lions (4-13 Overall, 2-2 UE) got off to a strong start, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Landon Eyster started the game by driving a single into right center field. Isaiah Dull was hit by a pitch and Peter DePolo III drew a walk to load the bases. Logan Ewert then worked a walk, allowing Eyster to score. Saint Elizabeth (7-10 Overall, 3-1 UE) answered back, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Berks got the offense going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Andrew Seibert led off the inning by driving a single into left center field. Dull drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base. Later in the inning, Ewert popped a single into the outfield, allowing a run to score. Berzonski tied the game at three, hitting a hard ground ball to second base, bringing in an RBI.
 
The Lions took control of the game in the sixth inning. Cade Baumgardner led off the inning by drawing a walk and Eyster was then hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on base. Landon Reyes then laid down a great a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Dull was then hit by a pitch for the second time, loading the base. DePolo delivered a clutch hit, blasting a double into center field, allowing all three base runners to score. Later in the inning, Ewert reached on an error that allowed DePolo to score and give Berks a 7-3 lead.
 
The Eagles plated a run in the top of the seventh inning to close back within three runs. Berks added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. For the third time, Dull was hit by a pitch and he then stole second and third bases to move into scoring position. DePolo then lifted a sacrifice fly into center field, allowing Dull to score, giving Berks an 8-4 advantage.
 
Saint Elizabeth tried to rally back in the top of the ninth inning scoring three runs to close back withing one run. Amanjeet Turka closed out the game with a strike out, securing the 8-7 victory.
 
On the mound, starter Parker Zook pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out seven. Turka earned his second save of the game, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on eight hits while recording four strikeouts.
 
Offensively, DePolo had a huge performance, going 1-2 with a double and four RBIs. Ewert added two RBIs, going 2-4 with a double. Dull was hit by a pitch three times, scoring three runs in the process.
 
The Lions got off to a fast start in game two, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Eyster led off the inning by hammering a triple into right field. Reyes was then hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners. Reyes tried to steal second base, drawing a throw that allowed Eyster to score. The Eagles answered back, plating one run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning to build a 3-1 lead.
 
Berks got a run back in the bottom of the third inning. Seibert led off the inning with a double to right center, eventually moving over to third on a wild pitch. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Ewert reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Seibert to score.
 
The Eagles stretched their lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two more runs. The Lions tried to answer back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Baumgardner reached base on an error and advanced to third on a single by Eyster. He then scored on a ground ball by Reyes, to make the score 5-3. Saint Elizabeth broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to take a five-run lead. The Eagles held on for a 13-3 victory.
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will have another short turnaround as they travel to take on #21 Gettysburg in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 23. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

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