Myrtle Beach, SC – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball Team (3-3, 0-0) had an up and down day as they split their double header at Myrtle Beach on Thursday. They started the day with a walk-off 4-3 win over Lakawanna College and finished getting 10-run ruled by Catholic (JV) team 11-1. PSUGA would fall behind in both contests on the day but were able to fight back in game one.
They fell behind Lakawanna 3-0 as Matt Smith (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) gave up two unearned runs in the first inning and an earned run in the top of the fourth. PSUGA would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth after Adam Jacko (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) reached on a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error. Marcos Lopez (Caglas, Puerto Rico/Ramey) would reach on an error that allowed Jacko to score and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Zack Pollack would then deliver an RBI Fielder’s Choice that scored Dylan Ernst (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) making it a one run ball game. It would stay that way until the bottom of the seventh when Lopez walked and stole second and Pollack singled to put runners on first and third with one man out for Josh Arroyo (Tao Alta, Puerto Rico/Levittown Baptist Academy).
Arroyo would promptly deliver a line drive into right field scoring Lopez and Pollack to give PSUGA the walk-off win. Smith picked up his first win of the season after a dominant seven innings of work giving up three runs, one earned, on nine hits while striking out three batters. It was the second time this season that PSUGA has come back from being down in the fifth inning or later to pick up a victory.
After having the rush of a walk-off win, PSUGA would then suffer a big loss falling to Catholic (JV) 11-1 in game two of the day. Catholic would start the day scoring five runs in the top of the second to put PSUGA in a whole. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead before David West’s (Hempfield, Pa./Hempfield) day was done.
Brett Yuhas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) would be called on in the top of the 6th and Catholic continued to tee off scoring five more runs on three hits and three walks. PSUGA would get their only run of the game in the bottom of the 6th when Caleb Smith (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) hit a sacrifice fly to score Pollack. The 10-run rule would then go in effect ending the game and giving Catholic the victory.
PSUGA is now 3-3 through their first six games at Myrtle Beach and will look to finish strong on their final day at the Cal Ripken Experience. They will take on John Wood Community College at 6 p.m. at the Cal Ripken Experience.
