Late Game Surge Too Much to Handle for Greater Allegheny Baseball

Pittsburgh, Pa. - In a Penn State University Athletic Conference double-header, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team fell in a 7-4 extra innings decision over Penn State Brandywine, Saturday afternoon, before dropping game two in a 7-5 final.

Junior catcher Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) singled up the middle to start off the bottom of the second before freshman Cody Calfo (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) came in to pinch run. Calfo advanced to third on a ground out before crossing home plate after a junior short stop Brandon Koglin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) singled to left center, 1-0 GA.

Freshman outfielder Mark Pfleger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) singled up the middle before freshman outfielder Dylan Finocchi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) reached first on an error. Junior second baseman Adam Jacko (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) was hit-by-pitch to fill the bases as freshman third baseman Zach Craven (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) grounded out to push Pfleger to score, 2-0 GA.

Three hits in the top of the fourth contributed to a 2-2 tie at Woodland Hills High. 

Junior outfielder Mark Hollis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) managed a single in the bottom of the fourth before the bottom of the fifth brought more runs for Greater Allegheny. Both Jacko and Craven walked as Del Rio singled to center field to fill the bases. Senior designated hitter John Nusser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) reached base on a fielder's choice to bat in Jacko, 3-2.

The bottom of the sixth continued on for the Lions, as Pfleger singled to the left field and Finocchi singled to shortstop. Jacko singled down the left field line before advancing to second on the throw, batting home Pfleger, 4-2.

A late game surge from Brandywine catapulted the team to tie the game at four as the game went into extra innings. Two runs in the top of the seventh and three runs in the top of the eighth paved the way for a BW 7-4 overthrow of Greater Allegheny. 

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Luke Padezan (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) threw seven innings in the contest, sitting down seven on strike-outs. The righty hammered 75 strikes on 127 pitches. Junior right-handed pitcher Dan Daly (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) took the loss in game one, as the righty saw 13 strikes on 24 pitches.

In game two, Brandywine notched one run in the top of the first inning before slashing two in the second.

BW's Joe Samohod was pitching a no-hitter, letting up just a Graziano and Ligeros walk, until the bottom of the sixth.

Jacko walked to first before Pfleger singled to left field, Calfo entering to pinch run. Del Rio singled down the right field line to score Jacko as a Nusser brought a single to third base, scoring Calfo, 3-2 BW. Padezan entered to pinch run for Del Rio as a Koglin single to filled the bases. 

Hollis singled up the middle to drive in both Nusser and Padezan to overthrow Brandywine, leading to a pitching change. Graziano singled to left field to bat in Koglin, advancing Greater Allegheny to a 5-3 lead over Brandywine.

Three hits turned into four runs in the top of the seventh to overturn the Lions and take the 7-5 lead late in the game.

The bottom of the seventh started with a new pitcher. Jacko managed a single to left field as a double play contributed to a quick inning, GA falling short 7-5.

Jacko, Nusser and Koglin all went 1-for-3 in game two, all notching a run each. Hollis also went 1-of-3, batting home two runs.

Lopez threw the complete seven-inning game, sitting down three of his 32 batters down on strike-outs. 

Greater Allegheny (5-17, 3-7 PSUAC) will host their final home contests of the season, as Penn State Schuylkill comes to Woodland Hills High School. The Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) double-header is set for a first pitch at 12 p.m.