Lion Baseball Falters over Point Park, 6-4

Washington, Pa. - Despite out-hitting the Pioneers, the Penn State Greater Allegheny baseball team fell at Consol Energy Park, Wednesday afternoon, by a score of 6-4 after nine innings.

To open the first inning, each team managed a hit. In the top of the second, Greater Allegheny got things moving. Senior center outfielder Gianmarco Concepcion (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Mercyhurst North East) walked to first base before he stole second and advancing to third off a groundout. Sophomore designated hitter Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy). Senior left-fielder Matt Klena (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) doubled to left center to advance Del Rio to third. Freshman right-fielder Terance Wroniak (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) singled through the left side to bat in Del Rio to put Greater Allegheny up 2-0.

The bottom of the third inning saw an unearned run after an error on Greater Allegheny, Point Park getting on the board and slicing the deficit in half, 2-1. The top of the third saw three GA athletes left on base before the Pioneers came back up to bat. Two more runs were notched off Point Park's bat to throw the home team ahead of GA, 3-2. Two additional runs were added from PP in the bottom of the fifth before they capped off another in the bottom of the sixth, as the #24 ranked NAIA program moved ahead of Greater Allegheny, 6-2.

Senior shortstop Aaron McGee (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) and Concepcion walked to first base as both runners advanced on a sophomore first baseman Joshua Arroyo (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico/Levittown Baptist Academy) hit to the shortstop to advance each runner on an error. Del Rio singled down the left field line to bring home both McGee and Concepcion, cutting the gap by two, Point Park ahead 6-4.

With McGee on the mound, he rode out the final two innings allowing just one hit, but the margin was too far as Greater Allegheny went on to fall to Point Park after nine innings, 6-4.

Del Rio finished the day going 4-for-5, batting three RBIs and scoring one run himself. Senior catcher Troy Ambros (Pembroke Pines, Fla./West Broward) assisted his team by going 2-for-5 at the plate. The GA offense managed ten hits from 35 at bats while Concepcion and Wroniak swiped stolen bases.

Greater Allegheny (5-4) is set to host their first home matches of the season at Baldwin High School this Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, GA is set for a nine-inning contest with Finger Lakes Community College for a 3 p.m. first pitch. Sunday is set for a double-header with Finger Lakes CC with a start time scheduled for 12 p.m.