Vero Beach, Fla. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team played two games yesterday in the Florida sun, taking a 8-3 triumph over Bridgewater State and a 9-3 victory over Briarcliffe (NY), advancing their record to 4-0.
In the opening game of the day against Bridgewater, the first two innings went scoreless. Freshman infielder Brian Casiano (San Juan, Puerto Rico/International Baseball Academy) and junior catcher Clay Groff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) earned a single a piece before both advanced on a wild pitch. Senior infielder Adam Wehr (Orefield, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) doubled to center field, earning a RBI as Groff came home. Bridgewater managed a run in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at one.
The top of the 5th saw another earned run from Groff just before the 6th heard from sophomore infielder Tommy Williams (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) and junior outfielder Oliver Girman (Monroeville, Pa./Serra Catholic) got batted in by Groff, proceeding the tally 5-1. Williams added another before senior outfielder Braedon Pennington (Punxsutawney, Pa./Mercyhurst) posted the next, Greater Allegheny ahead after nine innings, 8-3.
Junior pitcher Eddie Emes (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton) faced 21 batters in five innings pitched, allowing seven hits with three strike-out's. Junior pitcher Eric Schell (Linesville, Pa./Mercyhurst North East) came in to throw the last four innings, dishing out four strike-outs. Groff went 3-for-4, obtaining three runs and three runs batted in. Wehr assisted his team by going 2-for-2, as did Williams, both batting a run in.
Briarcliffe was next on the horizon for Greater Allegheny, this time with junior pitcher Matt Klena (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) on the mound. For the first time of the 2013-14 season, Greater Allegheny found themselves trailing, after Briarcliffe's Carrano crossed home plate in the top of the 2nd. The bottom of the 3rd, junior catcher Troy Ambros (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./West Browar) hammered a triple to left center, bringing home Casiano. Wehr was next up and added a double to bring home Ambros, GA now ahead of Briarcliffe 2-1. Briarcliffe tied the game at 2 before a game-changing bottom of the 4th inning. Groff got nailed with a hit by pitch before Girman pushed him to second. Groff hustled to home plate to beat the catcher for a tally after Cartagena reached on a fielder's choice. Groff extended the lead before Casiano brought home senior infielder Sam Weightman (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) to close the 4th, GA now ahead 4-3. That would be the final tally notched for Briarcliffe as Greater Allegheny took the next five innings.
Freshman outfielder Mark Hollis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and sophomore outfielder Jose Pablo Bonilla (Coto Laurel, Puerto Rico/Academia Santa Maria) earn two in the 5th before Wehr, Hollis and Girman get batted in for the final tallies on the seven inning board.
Klena obtained the win after five innings pitched, sending six to the bench on strike-outs. Junior pitcher Matt Warhola (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Allegheny (Md.)) allowed no hits through two innings to save the game. Casiano went 3-for-3 with one run scored for GA. Girman went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI to help out his team. Ambros and Wehr matched each other, as both went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI apiece.
With the pair of wins, Greater Allegheny begins their 2013-14 season with a perfect 4-0 record.
Greater Allegheny is back in action, Tuesday afternoon, as the team plays WVU Tech for a 1 p.m. start. You are able to listen to the seven inning game with Champs Sports; click here!
