Butler, Pa. - Through their first Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) matches of the 2015-16 schedule, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team picked up their first conference victory of the season, 4-3, before they fell through game two by a margin of 4-1.
Freshman short stop Dylan Finocchi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) walked to first, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Finocchi scored the first goal of the game on a wild pitch, GA 1-0. Freshman third baseman Zach Craven (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) singled before junior Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) singled to center field. Senior outfielder John Nusser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) walked to fill the bases before freshman first baseman Jordan Graziano (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) walked to push Craven home, GA 2-0 after the first inning.
A double and a single in the top of second tied the game up at two all on both sides of the Lion ball. Junior second baseman Adam Jacko (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) obtained a hit in the bottom of the second before Wilkes-Barre managed to note another run, giving the visiting team the 3-2 lead after the top of the third.
The bottom of the fifth brought a Jacko walk before advancing all the way to third off of a stolen base and a wild pitch. Craven walked to first before stealing second. Del Rio singled to left field to usher both Jacko and Craven to score, uplifting the Lion score to 4-3 over the PSUAC nemesis.
A WB hit in the top of the seventh brought contention to Greater Allegheny's lead, but the home team closed the game with a ground out, GA swiping their first PSUAC victory of the season.
Del Rio hit 2-of-3 posting two runs batted in while Jacko went 1-of-1 with one run notched. Craven hit 1-of-2 from the plate while noting a pair of runs.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Luke Padezan (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned his first win on the mound through game one as the righty threw a complete game. With 32 batters faced, the sophomore noted 69 strikes on 93 pitches while sitting down six on strikeouts.
Finocchi kicked off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to center field. With a Jacko single to the shortstop, Greater Allegheny went up over Wilkes-Barre 1-0. Freshman designated hitter Brandon Koglin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) managed to note a single to the short stop in the bottom of the second as Wilkes-Barre tied the game at one in the top of the third.
The game continued silent as Finocchi singled to left center before stealing second.
A big top of the sixth inning for Wilkes-Barre brought two more runs, the visiting Lions now on top of the home team, 3-1. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Jeffers (Vinton, Ohio/River Valley) came in for sophomore right-handed pitcher Daniel Daly (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) after the righty worked the majority of six innings.
One more Wilkes-Barre run in the sixth moved the Lions over Greater Allegheny, 4-1.
The sixth inning proved too much for Greater Allegheny to overcome, falling in game two, 4-1.
Finocchi hit 2-of-3 through game two with one run scored as Jacko, Craven, Nusser and Koglin all noted a hit on three at bats.
Daly saw five and 2/3 innings with 28 batters faced, five strikeouts and 53 strikes on 92 pitches. Jeffers got on the mound for the first time this season with 12 strikes on 24 pitches with one batter sat down on strikeout.
Greater Allegheny (3-11, 1-1 PSUAC) look forward to Tuesday to continue Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) play. The Lions travel to Penn State Fayette for a double-header. The first game is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
