Nittany Lions drop double-header at Central Penn College

Susquehanna Township, Pa. - The Nittany Lions fell in a pair of games Tuesday night, facing off with the Knight's of Central Penn College. Hazleton dropped game one on a walk off home run by the Knights, losing by a score of 5-4. The Lions remained in contention in the final game through the first two frames, but an 11-0 run in the middle innings left Hazleton trailing by a deficit too steep to overcome. The Lions would succumb in game two by a score of 14-1

Game 1: Central Penn College 5, Penn State Hazleton 4

Freshman Austin Felter (Susquehanna, Pa.) allowed four runs combined in the second and third innings, but settled in to blank Central Penn in the fourth and fifth innings, keeping his squad in contention. In the top half of the sixth inning, Hazleton strung six consecutive singles together, including a two RBI single from junior Aaron Glass (Shippensburg, Pa.), knotting the score at 4-4. Freshman Joseph Bissol (Washington Crossing, Pa.) spelled Felter in the sixth frame and shut down Central Penn in his first inning of relief. After Hazleton was unable to push a run across in the top half of the seventh, third baseman Andrew Clark came to bat with two out and connected on a game ending solo home run to earn the 5-5 victory for the Knights.

Top Performers

Felter allowed just three hits in five innings of work for Hazleton, allowing four runs in the losing effort.

Senior Richard Hobbs (Central Islip, Ny.) tallied two hits and a run scored, while teammate Aaron Glass went 1-3 with the two RBI single in the sixth inning.

Michael Isherwood tossed a complete game for Central Penn, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Brandon Casiano went 1-3 with two RBI and Andrew Clark finished 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI on the walk off home run.

Game 2: Central Penn 14, Penn State Hazleton 1 (Final, 5 Innings)

Several Nittany Lion miscues aided Central Penn's efforts to score in game two, as the Knights picked up a pair of runs in the first frame. Hazleton responded as freshman Paul Jay Wiegand (Berwick, Pa.) came around to score on a ground out after hitting a double in the second frame, but that run would be the only score for the Nittany Lions. Central Penn reclaimed their two run advantage in the bottom half of the second inning, then found their groove against Hazleton sophomore Charles Karchner (Hazleton, Pa.) in the third frame. The Knights tacked on six runs in the third chasing Karchner from the game, then added five runs off Hazleton relievers in the fourth inning, ending the game in five innings by a score of 14-1.

Top Performers

Despite trouble on the hill, Karchner collected two hits in three trips to the dish. Wiegand and sophomore Max Mott (Harrisburg, Pa.) each went 1-2 with a double in the loss.

Jonathan Garcia led the Knights hitters with a 3-4 performance, scoring three runs and driving in one RBI. Jarrett Hoy finished 2-3 with three runs scored and one RBI while Miguel Arrendondo finished 1-3 with two RBI.

Andrew Clark earned the win for Central Penn in game two, working four innings from the mound, allowing one run on four hits.

Next up

The Nittany Lions travel to Penn State DuBios on Wednesday, April 6 for their first matchup of Penn State University Athletic Conference play.