Greater Allegheny Baseball Slighted by Schuylkill in Pair of Contests

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Through the 2015-16 Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) final home double-header of the season, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's baseball team took a 9-0 blank in game one over Penn State Schuylkill, before falling in a 10-2 game two decision.

Three runs were put up in the top of the first by Schuylkill as freshman third baseman Zach Craven (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) took his base on a walk in the bottom of the inning. A run in both the second and third inning moved Schuylkill ahead of Greater Allegheny, 5-0.

Junior outfielder Mark Hollis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) singled to right field in the second as freshman designated hitter Dylan Finocchi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) walked to first. 

The fourth inning saw three more Schuylkill runs off of two hits, 8-0.

The sixth inning saw another Schuylkill run as junior second baseman Adam Jacko (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) singled up the middle in the bottom of the inning. Senior outfielder John Nusser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) singled to the right center before getting nailed by a double-play.

Greater Allegheny fell through game one, 9-0.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Mark Pfleger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) threw three innings, dishing out 35 strikes on 19 batters. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Dan Daly (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) pitched the final four innings, as he sat down four of his 17 batters down on strike-outs. Daly dished out 46 strikes on 65 pitches.

Jacko, Nusser, Hollis, junior catcher Francisco Del Rio (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) and junior shortstop Brandon Koglin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) all hit 1-of-3 through game one.

Game two started off slow as Craven walked to base in the first before a Del Rio single. Two runs were managed in the top of the second in game two after a hammer of a double, 2-0 visiting Lions.

Koglin started off the second inning for the Lions with a double down the left field line. Ligeros walked before he and Koglin both advanced a base on wild pitch. Jacko walked to first but time was not on their side, as a ground out sent the runners to the dug out.

Craven singled to right field to kick off the bottom of the third before Del Rio singled to left field. Both runners advanced on a ground out before Koglin smacked a sacrifice fly to center field, 2-1 GA. Pfleger reached base on an error by the shortstop, scoring Del Rio and tying the game at two a piece.

A pitching change in the third was followed by another two runs by Schuylkill, 4-2.

A double in the top of the fifth inning brought another run from Schuylkill, advancing their lead over GA 5-2.

Two runs off two hits in the sixth was the capper for the Schuylkill baseball team, finishing their scoring tally on the day at seven.

Koglin managed a double in the sixth to finish up the day for the GA offense.

Taking a 7-2 loss on the chin, Greater Allegheny freshman right-handed pitcher Max Whiteman (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) takes the loss on the chin as he faced 15 batters, throwing 19 strikes in two innings.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Jeffers (Vinton, Ohio/River Valley) sat down three of his 15 batters faced, tossing 34 strikes on 61 pitches.

Koglin went 2-of-2 in game two with one RBI as Del Rio hit 2-of-3 with one run scored. Craven connected on 1-of-3 with one run himself.

Greater Allegheny (5-19, 3-9 PSUAC) heads on the road to Penn State Beaver, Wednesday afternoon, for a Penn State University Athletic Conference double-header. The first pitch is set for 2 p.m.