VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — Penn State Berks had a successful doubleheader against Valley Forge on Friday, securing two conference victories. The Nittany Lions earned a commanding 10-0 victory in game 1, followed by an 8-3 win in game 2.
Berks rolled to a commanding 10-0 victory over Valley Forge, fueled by a seven-run surge in the final three innings. The Nittany Lions tallied 11 hits and kept a clean sheet over seven innings, while the Patriots were held to just three hits and committed four errors.
Berks jumped ahead early in game 1, with
Bryce Kelly's single followed by
Andrew Seibert's, setting up
Michael DeRichie's RBI single to bring Kelly home, putting Berks up 1-0. In the second inning,
Michael Thalassinos singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Cade Baumgardner, stretching the lead to 2-0.
The fifth inning was a turning point as
Colby Crills reached on an error, advanced to third, and scored along with Seibert on another error, boosting the Blue & White's lead to 4-0. Berks tacked on another in the sixth with Thalassinos scoring off Baumgardner's double, making it 5-0.
The seventh inning was all Berks, starting with Kelly's solo homer. Seibert reached on an error and scored on DeRichie's RBI single. Thalassinos doubled, bringing in two more, and Crills wrapped up the inning with an RBI fielder's choice, pushing the lead to 10-0.
Michael Thalassinos led Berks with three runs and three hits, including a double, driving in two.
Bryce Kelly added a homer and two hits, with one RBI and two runs scored.
Michael DeRichie made his mark with four RBIs, two hits, a run, and a stolen base.
On the mound,
Justin Hefner was stellar, pitching a complete-game shutout over seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Hefner faced 29 batters, throwing 109 pitches with 58 strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 0.86.
In game 2, Penn State Berks cruised to an 8-3 win over Valley Forge, fueled by a lively 13-hit performance and four doubles. Valley Forge jumped out to a quick start, with Zack Haines scoring on Joey Demirjian's RBI single, followed by Gabriel Murphy coming home on Evelyn Asijah's sacrifice fly, giving Valley Forge a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Penn State Berks answered back in the second.
Lucas Bacher tripled and crossed the plate thanks to
Michael Thalassinos's RBI double. Thalassinos then scored on a sacrifice fly from
Cade Baumgardner, knotting it up 2-2 by the end of the second.
In the third,
Bryce Kelly singled and later scored when
Jackson Brancato was hit by a pitch, while
Lucas Bacher added an unearned run, surging ahead 4-2 after three innings. The fifth inning saw Berks extend their lead, with
Lucas Bacher scoring on
Cade Baumgardner's RBI single, and
Bryce Kelly driving in
Owen Grove and Baumgardner with a single, pushing the score to 7-3 through five.
In the sixth,
Lucas Bacher doubled and scored on Thalassinos's second RBI double of the day, with the Nittany Lions leading 8-3 after six. The game wrapped up with Berks securing an 8-3 victory over Valley Forge.
Bryce Kelly was clutch with three hits and two RBIs, while Baumgardner chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. Bacher was a standout on the bases, scoring four runs with sharp base running. Thalassinos contributed with two doubles and two RBIs, enhancing the team's offensive output.
On the mound for game 2,
Jacob Crisler pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits, striking out two, and walking two. He faced 20 batters, tossing 66 pitches with 35 strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 1.71.
Amanjeet Turka came in to relieve Crisler and delivered 4 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out five, allowing no walks and just two hits, contributing to a stellar WHIP of 0.48.
WHO'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions will return to action when they face Penn State Brandywine in a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday April 4.
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