Jacksonville, Ill. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team took two victories, Tuesday afternoon, as they defeated Robert Morris-Springfield 12-1 alongside Selma 7-1 in day two of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series.
Robert Morris-Springfield was first on the board in the first inning, putting Greater Allegheny down 1-0, unearned. Freshman infielder Brian Casiano (San Juan, Puerto Rico/International Baseball Academy) walked to first before he advanced to third on both a wild pitch and a passed ball. Junior infielder Aaron McGee (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) doubled to bat in Casiano, tying RMU-Springfield's lone tally in the game. Sophomore outfielder Jose Pablo Bonilla (Coto Laurel, Puerto Rico/Academia Santa Maria) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring McGee and pushing GA ahead, 2-1.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, as Greater Allegheny came back to bat. Bonilla singled before Freshman Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) reached first on an error by the third baseman and both advance on an GA out. Both players advanced again, this time scoring Bonilla, on a wild pitch. Junior outfielder Gianmarco Concepcion (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Mercyhurst North East) singled, batting in Del Rio to continue the GA stride. Concepcion stole second before senior outfielder Braedon Pennington (Punxsutawney, Pa./Mercyhurst) singled to drive Concepcion to score, Greater Allegheny leading 5-1.
Senior infielder Adam Wehr (Orefield, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and Bonilla singled before both moved a base on an GA out. The players advanced another base on an out, Wehr moving across home to mark another tally for Greater Allegheny. Concepcion singled, adding Del Rio and Bonilla to the scoring tally and ending the fifth inning, 8-1 GA.
Casiano singled and McGee walked before both moved a base on wild pitch. Wehr doubled to score both McGee and Casiano. Bonilla was hit-by-pitch before Del Rio singled, scoring Wehr. Bonilla advanced to third on a double play before Concepcion reached on an RMU-Springfield error, polishing off Greater Allegheny's scoring drive as Bonilla crossed home 12-1.
Concepcion went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring one run himself and batting three in. Bonilla went 2-for-2 in the batters box, scoring three runs and batting another in. Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Klena (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) completed all seven innings on the mound for Greater Allegheny, facing 30 batters allowing just six hits. Klena advances his overall record to 6-2.
The win advanced Greater Allegheny to another game on the day, this time against Selma University.
Greater Allegheny was first to score in game two, as both McGee and Wehr scored unearned marks, GA 2-0. Selma managed a run in the top of the third inning, as the score was also unearned. The bottom of the fourth inning saw sophomore infielder Victor Monroig (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Juan Quirindongo) singled up the middle. Senior infielder Sam Weightman (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) doubled down the right field line, scoring Monroig. Sophomore infielder Tommy Williams (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) reached base on error, moving Weightman to third. Weightman scored on an fielder's choice from McGee, Greater Allegheny leading 4-1.
Freshman outfielder Mark Hollis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) walked before he advanced on a wild pitch. Bonilla walked before both Bonilla and Hollis advance on a Greater Allegheny ground-out. Monroig singled through the right side, adding Bonilla and Hollis to the score, 6-1.
Greater Allegheny tallied their final run in the bottom of the sixth. McGee found himself on third base after error and an GA out. Hollis walked before McGee scored on a throwing error, capping the scoring drive 7-1 to end the game.
Monroig and Weightman both went 2-for-3 at the plate, as they scored two runs and three runs batted in combined. Junor right-handed pitcher Eddie Emes (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton) pitched a complete game, as he saw 29 batters with five strike-outs. Emes finds himself sitting with a 7-0.
GA survives and advances to Wednesday, as they are set to play Cincinnati-Clermont for a rematch of last season's final game of the 2013 USCAA Small College World Series. Greater Allegheny (32-11) will see Cincinnati-Clermont at 11 a.m. in Jacksonville, Illinois. Follow the game by live stats! Click here.
