MANSFIELD – Peter Pena went 3-5 with three RBIs and a run to lead Mansfield past Penn College in Mansfield's home opener at Shaute Field on Wednesday in a single nine-inning game.
 
Taylor Hillson and Tanner Klein got aboard in the bottom of the first on a pair of singles into the outfield before Pena plated a run with a double down the right field line. Zach Merkle pushed in another run with a sacrifice fly to give Mansfield (11-11, 2-2 PSAC East) a 2-0 lead.
 
The lead was short lived though as Penn College's (8-5, 0-0 NEAC) Eric Vigna drove a two-run homer to right field to even the score.
 
With bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Pena placed another ball down the line to score Hillson and Colby Schearer to put the Mountaineers back up by a pair of runs.
 
Ben Flicker got one back for the Wildcats with an RBI single in the top of the third to cut the Mansfield lead to 4-3.
 
After a scoreless fourth, Pena got aboard with a one-out double and moved to third on a wild pitch. A Dio Infante single into left field allowed Pena to score easily from third.
 
A Vigna RBI double in the top of the sixth moved Penn College back within a run at 5-4.
 
Infante plated another run in the seventh before Paige and Mengel both scored on errors in the eighth to extend the Mansfield lead to 8-4.
 
Hillson went 2-4 with a pair of runs and a walk with Infante recording two RBIs.
 
Tommy Alexander started the game for Mansfield, pitching a pair of rehab innings. Bryce Zaparzynski was credited with the win after tossing 2.2 innings with no runs allowed. The Mountaineers pitched by committee in the game, using six different pitchers to earn the victory.
 
Mansfield returns to PSAC East action by hosting Millersville at Shaute Field on Friday.