LANGHORNE, Pa. — Penn State Berks secured a decisive victory in a doubleheader against Cairn University at Stillman Athletic Field, winning the first game 10-4 and dominating the second game 20-1.
The Nittany Lions accumulated 13 hits and four doubles, while their pitchers held the Highlanders to seven hits over nine innings. Penn State Berks began the game with a strong offensive showing, scoring two runs in the first inning.
Cade Baumgardner walked and later scored on
Bryce Kelly's double.
Colby Crills also crossed home plate on
Andrew Seibert's sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2 after the first inning.
In the second inning, the Blue & White added two more runs.
Owen Grove singled and was driven in by Baumgardner's triple. Baumgardner scored the second run of the inning on Crills' sacrifice bunt, extending the lead to 4-2. The fourth inning saw Berks increase its advantage. Grove scored on Kelly's sacrifice fly, and Baumgardner came home after an error, giving the Nittany Lions a 6-4 lead.
Berks continued to widen the gap in the fifth inning.
Lucas Bacher scored on Grove's sacrifice fly, and
Michael Thalassinos crossed the plate on a wild pitch, making it 8-4. In the seventh inning, Baumgardner and Crills both scored on Seibert's double, pushing the lead to 10-4. The pitching staff, led by
Amanjeet Turka, maintained the lead, allowing no runs over the final six innings.
Baumgardner scored four runs and collected three hits, including a triple, to drive the offense. Seibert contributed significantly with three RBIs and two doubles. Turka pitched 6 innings, allowing four hits while striking out four batters to secure the win. Kelly added two RBIs with a crucial double, enhancing the team's scoring efforts.
Justin Hefner started on the mound for the Blue & White, pitching 3 innings and allowing 4 earned runs on 3 hits.
In the second game, the Nittany Lions tallied 16 hits and recorded three triples. The game began with
Cade Baumgardner tripling to left center, setting the stage for
Colby Crills to double down the left field line and score Baumgardner.
Bryce Kelly followed with a single to left field, bringing Crills home and giving Berks a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the third inning, Berks exploded with a 10-run surge. Crills led off with a single, followed by Kelly being hit by a pitch.
Michael DeRichie then singled, driving in Crills.
Lucas Bacher's RBI single scored Kelly, and
Jackson Brancato's single added another run.
Owen Grove reached on an error, allowing two more runs to score. Baumgardner was hit by a pitch, setting up Crills to single again and drive in another run. A series of errors allowed additional unearned runs, bringing the score to 12-1.
The fourth inning saw the Blue & White extend its lead, starting with
Michael Thalassinos getting hit by a pitch and later scoring on a groundout. Kelly's single brought in another run, followed by
Andrew Seibert's triple down the right field line, scoring two more. DeRichie's single capped the five-run inning, making it 17-1. In the sixth inning, Berks added three more runs. DeRichie tripled to center field, scoring two unearned runs after a hit by pitch and an error. Bacher's single then brought DeRichie home, concluding the scoring at 20-1.
The Nittany Lions' pitchers, including
Luke Whelan,
Jacob Crisler, and
John Mudri, combined to limit Cairn to just one unearned run throughout the game.
Colby Crills scored five runs and collected three hits, including a double, while driving in two runs.
Bryce Kelly added three runs on two hits and also contributed two RBIs.
Andrew Seibert recorded three runs and tallied two RBIs with a triple.
Michael DeRichie finished with two runs and three hits, adding two RBIs and a triple.
Luke Whelan delivered a strong start for Berks, pitching 4 innings without allowing an earned run while surrendering only 3 hits and striking out 1 batter. He efficiently managed the game with 55 pitches, of which 36 were strikes, and did not issue any walks.
Jacob Crisler followed with 2 innings of relief work, striking out 3 and throwing 20 of his 27 pitches for strikes.
John Mudri closed the game with a solid inning, delivering 7 strikes on 9 on pitches.
WHO'S NEXT
The next challenge for Berks is set for Monday, April 13, when it will travel to face Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
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