Reading, PA- The Penn St. Berks Baseball Team rallied back from a five-run deficit to pick up a key United East victory, defeating Wilson College by a score of 12-9 on Wednesday, April 2.  

The Lions (6-19 Overall, 3-4 UE) got off to a fast start, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Landon Eyster led off the inning by driving a single through the right side. Travis Schiller drew a walk putting two runners on base. Isaiah Dull smashed a triple into the right center field gap, bringing home both runners. Landon Reyes brought home Dull, knocking an RBI single into left field, putting Berks ahead 3-0.  

The Phoenix (5-15 Overall, 3-2 UE) fought back, scoring seven total runs across the next three innings, eventually building an 8-3 lead. Berks fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Reyes singled through the left side and then Nick Hardesty reached on an error to put runners on the corners. A passed ball then allowed Reyes to score, cutting the Lions deficit down to four. Later in the inning, Jacob Berzonski reached on fielder's choice that allowed Hardesty to score.  

Berks retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dull started the rally by reaching base with a bunt single and then stole second and third to move into scoring position. Reyes drove a single out to right field, allowing Dull to score. Hardesty kept the rally going, crushing a double into left center field, bringing home another run. Logan Ewert popped a single to left field, allowing Hardesty to score and tie the score at eight. Later in the inning, Schiller lined a double into left field, allowing two more runners to score and giving the Lions a 10-8 lead. Wilson was able to plate one run in the top of the eighth inning to pull back within a single run.  

The Lions tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Andrew Seibert and Dull were hit by back-to-back pitches to lead off the inning. Later in the inning, Hardesty lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Dull to tag up and score. The Phoenix made a throwing error on the play that allowed a second run to score, giving Berks a 12-9 lead. Relief pitcher Amanjeet Turka, who pitched the final four innings, held Wilson to one hit in the ninth inning and secured the conference victory.  

Turka earned his first collegiate win, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out two. Offensively, Reyes had a great showing, going 3-5 at the plate with two RBIs Hardesty and Schiller each recorded a double and a pair of RBIs. Dull went 2-4 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored.  

WHO'S NEXT 
The Lions will travel to face nationally ranked Penn St. Harrisburg on Thursday, April 3. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.  

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