LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Mountaineer baseball team won a pair of one-run games in extra innings to earn a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division sweep over Lock Haven University on the road on Sunday afternoon, April 23.
The Mounties stole game one, 3-2, in eight innings before winning the nightcap, 6-5, in nine innings.
The Mounties improve to 12-25 overall and 3-15 in the PSAC East while the Bald Eagles fall to 18-18 overall and 6-12 in conference.
Austin Lewis and
Josh Colon were masterful on the mound in game one, while
Jacob Houtz and
Marcus Nales homered in the nightcap to lead the Mounties to a pair of victories.
GAME ONE: Mounties 3, Bald Eagles 2
The Bald Eagles struck first with a solo run in the bottom of the first, but the Mounties countered two innings later with a pair of runs, highlighted by an RBI-double by
Brittain Shander.
Down to the final three outs and their backs against the wall, the Bald Eagles plated the equalizer in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Colon took the rubber for the Mounties and tossed consecutive scoreless innings, to allow
Brett Stewart to knock in what would serve as the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning of a sacrifice fly that scored
Jeffrey Coakley.
Colon landed the victory for his efforts, surrendering just one hit and no runs in two innings of work. Lewis landed the no-decision, despite being charged with just one earned run in seven innings while striking out seven.
Stewart went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI at the dish to lead the Mounties.
For Lock Haven, Gavin Troutman was the lone player to record multiple hits, while Matt Lingenfelter landed the loss after allowing a run in the ninth inning.
GAME TWO: Mounties 6, Bald Eagles 5
The Bald Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead after four innings before the Mounties erupted for a five-spot in the top of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
The Bald Eagles clawed their way back to knot the score at 5-5 with solo runs in the sixth and seventh inning to send the game into extra innings.
Zachary Shertzer singled in a run and Houtz smashed a three-run home run to ignite the Mounties on their big inning. Shander and
Ryan Scott added runs scored.
However, the Mounties didn't wait long to end it as Nales blasted his third home run in as many games over the center field wall to put the Mounties up one, before
Luke Payne got the final three outs in the eighth to earn the victory.
Eric Gustofson battled through 5 and 2/3 innings on the bump to put the Mounties in position to win, limiting the Bald Eagles to four runs (two earned) on eight hits. Payne earned the victory in relief, allowing just one run (zero earned) in 2 and 1/3 innings.
Shertzer (2B), Houtz (HR), Shander and Nales (HR) finished with multiple hits to lead the Mounties.
David Keller landed the no-decision for the Bald Eagles after tossing seven innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits. Garrett Starr landed the loss in out of the bullpen.
NEXT UP
The Mounties travel to D'Youville College for a 1 p.m. non-conference contest on Tuesday.
