Nittany Lions drop pair of outings at top ranked Mont Alto

Mont Alto, Pa. - Penn State Hazleton hit the road to Penn State Mont Alto to looking to get back in the playoff hunt. The Lions took an early lead in game one against the Penn State University Athletic Conference's top ranked squad, but Mont Alto rallied with scores in the middle innings, then built on their lead to top Hazleton 8-2 in the opening matchup. The Lions outhit Mont Alto to the tune of 9-7 in game two, but 10 free passes from Hazleton pitching produced seven Mont Alto scores, leading to the two game sweep over the Hazleton squad.

Game 1: Penn State Mont Alto 8, Penn State Hazleton 2

Hazleton jumped ahead with scores in the third and fourth innings but the Lion's offense was limited to just three hits in the contest. Trailing by two, the home squad tacked on three runs in the fourth frame to take the lead, then added five runs to in the fifth and sixth innings to sure up the victory. Colby Dice struck out 11 batters and retired seven of the final eight batters he faced to any hopes of a Hazleton comeback bid.

Top 3rd

A Mont Alto fielding error puts Hazleton sophomore Max Mott (Harrisburg, Pa.) in scoring position with two outs. A fly ball by freshman Austin Felter (Susquehanna, Pa.) results in a miscue by the left fielder, bringing Mott in for the first score of the game.

Top 4th

Hazleton leads off with two singles to start the inning. A ground ball out off the bat of freshman Daniel Gilligan (Charlton, Ma.) drives in senior Corey Ryba (McAdoo, Pa.) from third base, putting Hazleton on top 2-0.

Bottom 4th

Two walks spark a Mont Alto rally and are followed by a pair of extra base hits by the home team. Clayton Eberhardt doubles to bring in the first score, the Trae Hall triples to give Mont Alto a 3-2 advantage.

Bottom 5th

Mont Alto get the first two batters on base and advance to scoring position on a passed ball. A sac fly drives in a run and a single from Jeremy Younker tacks on a second score, expanding the Mont Alto lead to 5-2.

Bottom 6th

Mont Alto leads off with three straight baserunners and brings in a run on a sacrifice fly. Younkers triples triples to plate two runners and bring the score to 8-2.

Top Performers

Senior Corey Ryba, junior Aaron Glass (Shippensburg, Pa.) and Max Mott tallied Hazleton's only hits in the ballgame, all singles.

Sophomore Charles Karchner (Hazleton, Pa.) took the hill for Hazleton in relief, holding Mont Alto scoreless for two innings, but was touched up for five runs in the fourth and fifth frames.

Younker led the Mont Alto hitting effort, notching two hits in three at bats with three RBI.

Colby Dice tosses a complete game for the win, striking out 11 batters while walking three.

Game 2: Penn State Mont Alto 7, Penn State Hazleton 1

Just as in game one, the Lions plate the first score, but Mont Alto manages to keep Hazleton off the board from the second inning on. Mont Alto is outhit, but makes their seven hits count, taking advantage of ten free passes by Nittany Lion pitching to rally from the one run deficit. Mont Alto builds a three run advantage by the third inning, then adds three insurance runs in the sixth to take the game 7-1.

Top 2nd

Sophomore Charles Ziegmont (Tallahassee, Fl.) singles to lead off the inning and pulls up to second base on a walk to Charlie Karchner. Max Mott delivers a one out double to score Ziegmont, but Karchner is thrown out at the plate and Mont Alto escapes with just one run allowed.

Bottom 2nd

Younker doubles to lead off the Mont Alto at bat and comes around to tie the game on a single from Eberhardt.

Bottom 3rd

Two hits and a Hazleton error contribute to a three run inning for the home team. With two runners aboard, Younker doubles to drive in a score. Eberhardt adds another RBI with a groundout, and a Hazleton miscue plates a third Mont Alto run, pushing the score to 4-1 in favor of Mont Alto.

Bottom 6th

Alex Cline drives a two run home run and with runners at second and third base and two outs, Corey Chatfield steals home to plate the final Mont Alto Score.

Top Performers

Sophomore Tyler Myers (Nanticoke, Pa.) and Corey Ryba both finish 2-4 at the plate to lead the Hazleton hitting effort. Mott finishes 1-3 with the lone RBI for the Lions.

Younker leads Mont Alto with a 2-4 game at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Clayton Eberhardt drives in two runs going 1-3 and Alex Cline ends the game 1-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. 

Dylan Bryan earns the win for Mont Alto, tossing six innings of one run ball. Bryan allows eight hits but strikes out eight Nittany Lions while walking just one batter.

Next Up 

Hazleton returns home for their third double header in three days where they'll face Penn State Schuylkill on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Drifton Sports Complex.