Baseball Splits Double-Header With #7 Penn College

Junior third baseman Jason Paris
Junior third baseman Jason Paris

Williamsport, Pa- The Penn State Greater Allegheny baseball team faced some of their stiffest competition of the season, and were able to earn a double-header split with 7th-ranked Penn College.  GA extended its record-setting win streak to 15 with a 4-2 win in game 1, but then had their bats silenced in game 2, losing 6-0 on a perfect game by Penn College pitcher, Josh Longsderff.

  Greater Allegheny got on the board early in game 1, leading 3-1 after four innings.  After scoring their first run on a Penn College error, sophomore designated hitter Sam Weightman (Penn Trafford, PA) came around to score on a passed ball, after drilling his 13th double of the season.  Junior third baseman Jason Paris (Chartiers Valley, PA) followed Weightman with a single, and would score on an RBI single by freshman outfielder Zach Zeroski (West Allegheny, PA).

  Senior starting pitcher Jonathan Lutz (West Mifflin, PA) kept the Penn College offense at bay, surrendering just 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits.  With Lutz doing his job, the GA bats added an insurance run in the 6th, when junior outfielder Mike Visloski (West Allegheny, PA) came around to score on a Jason Paris single.  Freshman Aaron McGee (Penn Trafford, PA) shut the door on the mound in relief of Lutz, giving up just 1 hit in his 1+ innings of work.

  Jason Paris led GA at the plate, going 3-4 with an RBI and a run.  Mike Visloski and Zach Zeroski each had 2 hits, with Zeroski recording an RBI.  Jonathan Lutz (5-3) earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings while striking out 5.  

  In game 2, the vaunted GA offense was completely shut down by Penn College pitcher Josh Longsderff.  Striking out 8 times,  Greater Allegheny would become victim of a perfect game. 

  Freshman starting pitcher Eddie Emes (New Brighton, PA) started the game for GA, and gave up 3 runs over 2 innings.  Emes (5-2) suffered the loss, striking out 1 and walking 3.  Aaron McGee pitched 1.1 innings following Emes, and would give up 3 runs on 3 hits.  Sophomore pitcher Brian Balagurchik (Notre Dame Academy, VA)  threw the remaining 3.2 innings, giving up no runs on 4 hits, while striking out 1.

  The game 2 loss snaps Greater Allegheny's 15 game win streak, but they still improved to 22-10 overall and 9-1 in the PSUAC.  They will return to action on Sunday as they host Penn State Hazleton in a conference double-header.  The day will serve as GA's Senior Day, with first pitch set for 12 PM.