READING, Pa. — It was a challenging home opening doubleheader for Penn State Berks as they fell to Penn State Harrisburg with scores of 16–3 and 10–0 at Hintz Baseball Field. The Nittany Lions struggled offensively, managing just nine hits across both games.
Game 1 saw Berks facing early adversity as Harrisburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of Coy Schwanger's RBI double and Tim Haftl's RBI single, setting the tone for the visitors. Harrisburg piled on five more runs in the second inning, highlighted by Zach Neeld's RBI single and Alexander Ruiz's two-RBI single, pushing the lead to 8-0 by the inning's end.
Berks got on the board in the fourth inning. Carsen Brey singled, moved up on a hit by
Lucas Bacher, and scored on
Jackson Brancato's RBI single, cutting the deficit to 9-1. In the sixth, the Blue & White showed some fight, adding two more runs. Brey reached on an error and scored alongside Brancato thanks to
Cade Baumgardner's two-RBI double. However, Harrisburg answered back with seven runs in the top half, sealing the deal at 16–3.
Baumgardner stood out with two RBIs and a double in his four at-bats. Brey made his mark by crossing the plate twice, and Brancato chipped in with a run, an RBI, and a walk.
John Mudri provided solid relief on the mound, pitching 3 innings with just one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
Justin Hefner started for the Blue & White, facing a tough outing with nine runs on nine hits over 2 1/3 innings, alongside two walks and a hit batter. Mudri took over in relief, limiting further damage with two earned runs on one hit, three walks, and two strikeouts.
Logan McMaster wrapped up the game, pitching 1 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits and three walks.
Game 2 was no kinder to Berks as they dropped the second game of the doubleheader with a 10–0 final score. The Nittany Lions were limited to just three hits, stifled by Harrisburg's commanding pitching. Harrisburg seized control early with a five-run rally in the second inning, as James Quici tripled down the right field line, scoring on Tim Haftl's single. Matthew Johansen's two-RBI single, aided by a Berks error, along with Blaine Waltimyer's sacrifice fly, put Harrisburg up 5–0 after two innings.
They kept the momentum going in the third, adding another run as Haftl tripled and came home on Jon Morgante's single, extending their lead to 6–0. In the fourth inning, Harrisburg tallied two more runs. Chris Catania singled and scored on Alexander Ruiz's hit to left, followed by a run-scoring double from Quici, pushing the lead to 8–0. Harrisburg tacked on a run in the sixth with Ruiz scoring off a Quici triple, making it 9–0. In the eighth, Kaden Pasternak, pinch running for Ruiz, crossed the plate on Quici's sacrifice fly, sealing the 10–0 victory.
For Berks in game two,
Bryce Kelly notched a hit and anchored a double play from first base.
Colby Crills contributed a hit and caught a runner stealing.
Owen Grove added a hit in two at-bats but was picked off once. On the mound,
Amanjeet Turka pitched 4 innings, striking out four while surrendering three earned runs.
Jacob Crisler threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts.
Luke Whelan finished with 1 2/3 innings, giving up one hit and one earned run, issuing one walk, and maintaining a WHIP of 1.67.
WHO'S NEXT
Berks will look to bounce back against when they head to Ewing, New Jersey, to take on The College of New Jersey at 3:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 23.
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