Plains, Pa. - With 30 total runs tallied, the Penn State Greater Allegheny baseball team rolled over Penn State Wilkes-Barre through a Penn State University Athletic Conference double-header, 16-4 and 14-2, Thursday afternoon.
Game on started off with three walks to fill the bases with junior third baseman Clay Groff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), senior shortstop Aaron McGee (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) and senior catcher Troy Ambros (Pembroke Pines, Fla./West Broward). Senior center-fielder Gianmarco Concepcion (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Mercyhurst North East) reached on a fielder's choice, pushing Groff to score. Sophomore first baseman Joshua Arroyo (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico/Levittown Baptist Academy) singled to bat home McGee. Sophomore designated hitter Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) walked before junior second baseman John Nusser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) and senior right-fielder Matt Klena (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) both singled to bat home Concepcion and Arroyo. Groff walked to score Del Rio as McGee reached on a fielder's choice, Greater Allegheny sailing ahead of Wilkes-Barre, 6-0.
Arroyo singled to get on base in the top of the second before he stole both second and third. Del Rio sacrifice flied out to center-field to score Arroyo, GA up 7-0.
Wilkes-Barre managed two runs in the bottom of the second to get on the board, 7-2.
The top of the third started with another Groff and McGee walk. Concepcion singled to bat home Groff as Arroyo singled to bring home McGee, GA 9-2. Del Rio singled to bat home both Arroyo and Concepcion, GA ahead 11-2.
Groff reached on a fielder's choice as McGee doubled to put Groff into scoring position. With an Ambros double, McGee and Groff were both pushed to score, 13-2. Arroyo singled to bat in Ambros before Del Rio singled to bring home Arroyo. Nusser singled to bat in Del Rio, capping off the scoring drive for Greater Allegheny at 16.
Wilkes-Barre put up a run in each of the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the fifth inning, moving the home team to four runs scored. Through five innings, Greater Allegheny took game one by a tally of 16-4.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Adam Jacko (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) earned his second win on the mound as he pitched four complete innings. He saw 23 batters as he sat down six on strike-outs. Arroyo hammered a perfect 4-for-4 as he tallied four runs and three RBIs. Del Rio hit 2-for-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored himself. Nusser went 3-for-4 through the game one win, earning two RBIs and one run scored. The GA offense managed 16 hits on 30 at bats with a total of 16 runs scored.
Game two brought Groff and McGee singles as Ambros reached on a fielder's choice. Concepcion singled to bat home McGee before Arroyo reached on a fielder's choice to fill the bases with GA Lions. Del Rio singled to bat home both Concepcion and Ambros. Klena sacrifice flied out to center-field to score Arroyo, GA ahead 4-0.
Wilkes-Barre notched a run in the bottom of the first before Greater Allegheny came back up to bat. Groff singled before McGee was hit-by-pitch and Ambros was walked. Concepcion singled to score Groff as Arroyo was hit-by-pitch, scoring McGee. Del Rio hit a sacrifice fly to score Ambros. Jacko singled to bat in Concepcion, moving the Lions to a 8-1 lead over the home team.
The top of the third started with a Groff walk to first base before McGee connected for a two-run homer, 10-1 GA. Ambros doubled before Concepcion singled to score Ambros. Another homerun, this time off Arroyo's bat, scoring both him and Concepcion. Sophomore left-fielder Mark Hollis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) singled to bat home Del Rio after his double to get on base, GA ahead 14-1.
Wilkes-Barre dropped their final run of the day in the bottom of the third inning, moving the final score to 14-2 Greater Allegheny.
With the win, freshman right-handed pitcher Luke Padezan (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned his fourth win on the mound as he threw all five-innings of game two. Through 25 batters faced, Padezan sat down four batters on strike-outs.
Greater Allegheny (22-6, 12-0 PSUAC) keeps their perfect conference record alive through the two Penn State University Athletic Conference wins. Penn State York comes to Woodland Hills on Saturday for a PSUGA home event. The PSUAC double-header is set for 2 p.m.
