Mont Alto, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball team (13-14, 8-7) had their Penn State University Athletic Conference playoff run cut short on Saturday when they fell to Penn State Mont Alto in the first round of the PSUAC Playoffs 9-1. After getting the lead early on in the game, Mont A lot scored six runs in the bottom of the first, and PSUGA did not have enough to respond taking the first-round exit.
Freshman Jordan Williams (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport HS) got the nod for his first collegiate start as he entered the game with a team low 2.27 ERA in his first 22 innings of work. Williams had been a workhorse for head coach Kenny Creehan out of the bullpen throughout the year, and was looking to come up big in what was the most important game this season.
He would get plenty of run support early as they capitalized on a one out double from Pedro Escobar (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) giving PSUGA their first runner in scoring position. Senior Dylan Ernst (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) would then come up and continue to his hot streak lining an RBI single scoring Escobar and giving PSUGA an early 1-0 lead. With the hit, Ernst ended his season with his 24-game on-base streak in tact making him the PSUGA record holder for longest consecutive on-base streak.
However, the potent Mont Alto offense would respond right away in the bottom of the first with six runs of their own that put PSUGA in a hole early. The big blow came on a bases clearing triple from Chance McClure that made the deficit six. PSUGA’s offense would fall silent for the rest of the night as they could not push across another run in the game. Mont Alto added on with two runs in the second and a run in the fifth to seal the deal on the 9-1 win and send PSUGA home packing.
Ernst led the way for PSUGA going 2-3 with an RBI on the day. Four other PSUGA hitters each collected a hit and PSUGA ended the day with six total hits. The top five hitters had a solid day combining to go 6-16 in the game, but they couldn’t pick up the timely hit when they needed it leading to the first round exit.
It was still a strong 2019 season for PSUGA baseball as they continued to grow both on and off the field. After entering the season with only nine players, PSUGA was able to beef up their roster to 18 and made the playoffs for the sixth time in the last ten seasons. With coach Creehan having a lot of talent primed to come to PSUGA next season, the future of the PSUGA baseball team is looking brighter than ever.