Williamsport, PA- The Penn St. Berks Baseball Team dropped both games of their United East doubleheader with Penn College on Saturday, March 29. The Lions dropped game one by a score of 19-2 and then could not hold onto an early lead in game two, falling 7-6.
 
The Lions (5-18 Overall, 2-4 UE) fell behind early in game one, as a couple of errors allowed the Wildcats (10-8 Overall, 5-1 UE) to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Berks tried to get rolling in the fourth inning. Isaiah Dull led off the game with a single to right field and Landon Reyes drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base. Nick Hardesty reached base on a fielder's choice that loaded the bases. Logan Ewert worked a walk, bringing in a run to cut the deficit down to five.
 
Penn College answered right back, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and one run in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 11 runs. Berks was able to plate a second run in the top of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Cade Baumgardner hit a sharp ground ball to third, allowing the run to cross the plate. The Wildcats added seven more runs in the bottom of the inning, securing a 19-2 victory.
 
Berks looked to get off to a better start in game two, putting some runs on the board in the top of the second inning. Dull led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. This season Dull has been hit by a school record 19 pitches and is currently first in the country in hit by pitches. Reyes drove a double down the left field line putting runners on second and third. Nick Hardesty lined a double into right field, allowing both runners to score, giving Berks a 2-1 lead. The Lions then loaded the bases for Landon Eyster who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that brought in a run. Travis Schiller then singled to second base allowing a fourth run to score. Later in the inning, Schiller stole second base, drawing a throw and an error that allowed the runner on third to score. Penn College answered back, scoring five runs over the next two innings to retake a 6-5 lead.
 
The Lions leveled the score in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs Baumgardner and Eyster smacked back-to-back singles to put a pair of runners on base. Schiller then knocked a single into left field, allowing Baumgardner to score. Both offenses slowed down, as Berks kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard for the next three innings. Penn College finally broke through, scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning and eventually earning a 7-6 victory.
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will return home to face Eastern University on Tuesday, April 1. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

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