Butler, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team swiped a set of 6-1 and 5-4 victories over Penn State Beaver, notching the men's 11th and 12th consecutive win on the season, moving their overall record to 26-9, 16-0 PSUAC.
Greater Allegheny was first on the board in the bottom of the second, as the home team notched two. Junior outfielder Gianmarco Concepcion (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Mercyhurst North East) singled to right center, advancing to second on the throw, batting in sophomore outfielder Jose Pablo Bonilla (Coto Laurel, Puerto Rico/Academia Santa Maria) for the first run. Sophomore infielder Victor Monroig (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Juan Quirindongo) was next up to single down the right field line, scoring Concepcion.
The game was held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Junior infielder Aaron McGee (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) doubled to right center, batting in both freshman infielder Brian Casiano (San Juan, Puerto Rico/International Baseball Academy) and Monroig. Senior infielder Adam Wehr (Orefield, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) hit a double to just about the same place in right center field, ushering home McGee, Greater Allegheny ahead 5-0.
GA added one more in the bottom of the sixth, as Monroig singled to bring home sophomore pinch runner Bill Carter (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), who came in for junior catcher Troy Ambros (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./West Browar). Senior right-handed pitcher Braedon Pennington (Punxsutawney, Pa./Mercryhurst) held Beaver scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, as they managed to put one run on the board to beat the shutout and give GA a 6-1 win. Pennington saw 25 batters through seven innings, allowing just two hits with 12 batters taking a seat off of strike-out.
Monroig went 3-for-3 at the plate, as he scored one and batted in two runners. In game one, Wehr went 2-for-3 while batting one run in.
Beaver came out hot in the second meeting, as they managed to drop four runs on Greater Allegheny within the first two innings of play. Greater Allegheny came up to bat in the bottom of the third inning, going on to tie the game at four with Beaver. Concepcion walked to bring home McGee. Senior infielder Sam Weightman singled to center field, pushing Carter and Bonilla across home plate. Monroig singled, batting in Concepcion and squaring up with Beaver at four.
Greater Allegheny's Bonilla doubled down the left field line, moving McGee home and taking the narrow lead over Beaver, 5-4. This would be enough to hold on and take the win from Beaver, completing Greater Allegheny's 16th Penn State University Athletic Conference triumph.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Zach Krivda (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) takes his fifth win on the mound of the season, as he struck out six of the 24 batters faced through five innings. Senior right-handed pitcher Eric Schell (Linesville, Pa./Mercyhurst North East) earned his third save of the season, as he came in for the final two innings of action, seeing nine batters and throwing 21 strikes.
Both Monroig and Bonilla went 2-for-3 at the plate through the second game, scoring one run and two runs batted in combined.
Greater Allegheny looks onward to their last weekend of regular season action, as the men travel with the softball team to the eastern side of the Penn State schools. Baseball is set to play a PSUAC double-header against Penn State Hazleton, Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
