Roaring Lions Comeback to Split Conference Doubleheader With Wilkes-Barre
Penn State Fayette (3-9) came back from four runs down in game two to split their conference opening doubleheader with Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Monday afternoon.
March 26, 2012
HOPWOOD, Pa. – Junior Zach Durbin (Carmichaels, Pa.) pitched a complete game, surviving a five-run third inning by Penn State Wilkes-Barre, and cracked three hits in game two as Penn State Fayette (3-9) came back to win the finale of their conference opening doubleheader on Monday afternoon. The Roaring Lions took game two, 7-5, after falling 5-4 in eight innings in game one.
Durbin finished with five hits and three RBIs on the afternoon, earning the win in game two. Junior Cody Ward (Connellsville, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in game two, and added two runs scored in game one.
GAME ONE: Penn State Wilkes-Barre 5, Penn State Fayette 4 (8 innings)
Kyle LeValley's single along the third base line scored Robert Vollmer with the go ahead run and Ryan Goodwin made it stand up as Penn State Wilkes Barre defeated the Roaring Lions 5-4 in the first game of the doubleheader at Hutchinson Field.
Zach Yursha led off the top of the eighth with a double to left and Vollmer walked. Durbin started a nifty third to first double play that erased Yursha and for a while it appeared as though Fayette might escape the inning without any damage.
LaValley's one hopper down the third base line barely eluded Durbin's glove and instead rolled into left field while Volmer raced home with the winning run.
Fayette had an opportunity to win it in the bottom half of the seventh, when the Roaring Lions had the winning run on third base. After two were out, sophomore Alex Fogle (Connellsville, Pa.) walked and advanced to third on junior Sam Beucher's (Connellville, Pa.) single through the left side. Goodwin ended the threat by striking out freshman Colvin Adey (Connellsville, Pa.).
Wilkes-Barre struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first. With two out, Goodwin singled to left center and moved to second on a wild pitch. He scored when Yursha reached on an error.
Fayette answered in the bottom of the first, pushing across three runs. Ward walked and junior Nolan Zavora (Charleroi, Pa. ) reached on an infield hit. Durbin's double to deep center field scored Ward. Fogle followed with a sacrifice fly to score Zavora. After a walk, Adey's single up the middle scored Durbin to give Fayette a 3-1 lead.
Wilkes-Barre tied in with two in the top of the third. Kempinsky singled and Stephen Gaylets reached on an error. Goodwin's single through the right side scored Kempinsky. Vollmer hit into a fielder's choice that scored Goodwin.
The Roaring Lions reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ward walked and scored on Durbin's double down the left field line, giving Fayette a 4-3 lead.
Wilkes-Barre tied it in the top of the fifth Gaylets doubled to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball. Vollmer's sacrifice fly to right tied the game at 4.
Freshman Harold McCutcheon (Claysville, Pa.) took the loss in relief as the Roaring Lions dropped to 2-9 on the season. Beucher went seven innings, but earned a no decision, striking out ten while giving up seven hits and four runs, three of them earned.
GAME TWO: Penn State Fayette 7, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 5
Fayette jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Ward reached on an error, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Zavora.
After a scoreless second inning, Wilkes-Barre got on the board with a five-run third, sending all nine batters to the plate. After a single and a strikeout to lead off the inning, a walk and a single to left loaded the bases. Yursha hit a line drive that was misplayed by Fogle and scored one. A fielder's choice by Kelly and a single through the right side by Vollmer added the next two runs to make it 3-1 Wilkes-Barre. LeValley singled past a diving Beucher at first base, plating two and giving Wilkes-Barre a 5-1 lead.
Fayette answered in the home half, scoring two runs and knocking out starting pitcher Vollmer with one out in the third. Durbin led off the inning with a line drive to left field, and Fogle followed with a double to right-center. After a groundout by Beucher, McKeel reached on an error. Adey hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Fogle and cut the deficit in half, 5-3.
After another scoreless inning in the fourth, Fayette plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their second lead of the game. McKeel bunted Beucher to second after Beucher's infield single to lead off the inning. Walks to Adey and pinch-hitter freshman A.J. Tworzydlo (Centerville, Pa.) loaded the bases for sophomore Chris Jeffrey (Garard's Fort, Pa.), who's RBI groundout to second plated Beucher. Ward singled over the outstretched arm of the shortstop to score Adey and Tworzydlo, and after a hit batter, Durbin singled to right-center to score Ward and give Fayette a 7-5 advantage.
Durbin escaped jams in the final two innings, but escaped unscathed, stranding four runners and striking out three over the last six outs for Fayette. Durbin finished with six strikeouts, walking four and giving up six hits and five runs, four earned, over seven innings.
Fayette travels to Penn College and Penn State Brandywine for doubleheaders on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1, respectively, as the Roaring Lions take their first of two cross-state trips of the season.