Lamont Furnace, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball Team (7-10, 4-2) stacked up runs early and used that to propel them to victory on Tuesday defeating Penn State Fayette (1-7, 0-5) 5-1. After taking the early lead, in the top of the first, PSUGA produced a three-run top of the second to take the lead for good against the Roaring Lions.
PSUGA would take the lead right away in the top of the first when Caleb Smith (Irwin, PA./Norwin) hit a sacrifice fly scoring Pedro Escobar to give PSUGA a 1-0 lead. Fayette responded in the bottom of the first when Austin Clark reached on an error by Escobar that brought the score even at one.
PSUGA would pull ahead for good in the top of the 2nd as their offense scored three runs on two hits. After an inning opening error gave PSUGA a runner at second with nobody out, Brian Koglin (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel) tried to lay down a bunt, but hustled down the line to beat the throw and Marcos Lopez (Caglas, Puerto Rico/Ramsey) came around to score to give PSUGA a 2-0 lead.
A walk and a sacrifice bunt would put runners at second and third with two outs when Escobar grounded out to third and allowed Koglin to come in and score. Zack Pollack (Cecil, PA./Cannon-McMillan) would line an RBI single into center field that scored Hunter Hughes (Murrysville, PA./Franklin Regional) and pushed PSUGA’s lead to 4-1.
It would be Pollack who stepped up again in the top of the fourth with runners on second and third and he would deliver with a sacrifice fly that brought home Adam Jacko (North Versailles, PA./East Allegheny) and staked PSUGA to their 5-1 lead which they would ultimately hold on their way to their fourth conference victory.
The five runs were more then enough for Matt Smith (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport) who turned in five strong innings giving up one unearned run on five hits while walking two and striking out two on his way to his second win of the season. David West (Hempfield, PA./Hempfield) pitched the final two innings retiring all six batters that he faced.
Pollack had a big day at the plate going 1-2 with a walk and 2 RBI coming through on his birthday. Jacko continued his success getting on base finishing 2-3 and Escobar finished 1-3 with a walk and an RBI. The offense as a whole was able to put together seven hits while working four walks in the victory.
The win now moves PSUGA to 4-2 in Penn State University Athletic Conference play and puts them in third place in the PSUAC West Division. With the top three teams from each division making the playoffs, the race is heating up as the regular season comes down to it’s final weeks of play.
PSUGA continues their long week of games when they take on Penn State Beaver in the first of a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m. Friday will be a single game before the two teams come back for doubleheader action on Saturday.
