PSUGA Drops Finale to PSU-DuBois in Close Contest

The Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball team (8-8, 3-3) fought hard in their season finale against Penn State DuBois, but in the end they fell in the finale 4-3. After jumping out to an early lead, PSU-DuBois responded and PSUGA could not figure out their bullpen leading to the loss.

It was PSUGA who would strike first in the bottom of the second after Brian Koglin (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel HS) singled to lead off the inning and was ran for by Randy Berroa (Harlem, NY./Norman Thomas HS). Brett Yuhas (Munhall, PA./Steel Valley HS) would then keep his hot streak going lining an RBI double scoring Berroa and giving PSUGA a 1-0 lead.

Two batters later, Zack Craven (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) would drive him in and PSUGA got out to a 2-0 lead after two innings. However, as has been the case throughout this series, Dubois would respond the next half inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single and once again things were knotted up at 2-2.

The score remained tied at two for the next two innings before Dubois once again got on the board in the top of the fifth. After an error allowed a runner on with one out, Dubois's Tyler Corl launched a two-run home run and doubled the Dubois advantage to 4-2 as the game moved to the bottom of the fifth.

PSUGA would cut the lead to one the next half inning. After back to back singles and a sac bunt put runners kn second and third with one out. Blake Flocker (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) would then ground out to second, scoring Craven and cutting the Dubois lead to 4-3 with four innings to go. However, a group of five relievers shut PSUGA down over the final 4.2 innings and they fell by the final score of 4-3.

Craven led the offense going 2-2 with a walk and an RBI while Yuhas added a 1-4 with an RBI. Sophomore Matt Givler (Coatesville, PA./Coatesville HS) got the start and went 6.2 innings giving up four runs, two earned, while striking out two batters. Jordan Williams (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) threw the final 2.1 innings out of the bullpen keeping Dubois off the board.

The loss now brings them to 3-3 in conference play and moved them out of first place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference West Division. With three more conference series to go, their is still time for Kenny Creehan and his team to get back on track on their race for a playoff spot.

The PSUGA Baseball team returns to action when they head on the road on Sunday to take on CCAC-Boyce in non-conference action. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at CCAC-Boyce.