PSU Hazleton Bats Come Alive But Still Falls to PSU Greater Allegheny 15-5

Penn State Hazleton hammered out 11 hits in the double-header opener to Penn State Greater Allegheny, but still had 11 K's and stranded 7 runners as the PSU branch campus from the west banged out 15 hits of their own enroute to a 15-5 win Wednesday evening at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC.  As as been the main problem for Hazleton during this southern swing, the pitching staff struggled to extend itself deep into innings and which resulted in utilzing an already tired bullpen.  Adam Michalesko got the nod for his second start of the season taking the loss and going 0-2 on the season.  Dominic Yannuzzi came in for middle relieve and Jordy Tejeda saw mound action for the first time this season.f5r

Josh Arroyo started off the second for Greater Allegheny with a lead-off double and scored on a follow-up triple by Pedro Escobar.  David West picked up the RBI when his single scored Escobar. After a fly ball to right field for the first out, an error allows West and Hunter Hughes to sit safely at second and third.  Marcos Lopez then stepped to the plate and slammed a double for 2 RBI's making the score 6-0 Greater Allegheny.  Hazleton responded in it's half of the inning when with one out, Dominic Yannuzzi singled.  An errant pick-off attempt moved Yannuzzi to second and he scored on the RBI single by Colin Stauffer. Stauffer then advanced to second on a bunt single by Jordy Tejeda. Both Stauffer and Tejeda then scored on a double steal attempt when the throw from the catcher sailed into left field.  Tim Kindler then singled and stole second, followed by a Wilson Guarnera walk.  Then inning then ended with one of the 11 K's recorded by Greater Allegheny's Dan Daly.

Another lead-off extra-base hit by Arroyo, this time a triple, opened the third frame and Esobar followed it upwith an RBI single.  Escobar was erased at second by a laser throw from catcher Wilson Guarnera.  West singled for his second hit of the game, moved to second on a wild pitch and then was also erased trying to steal third by another Guarnara peg. Michalesko the coaxed a fly ball to senter for the third out.  With one out in it's half of the inning, Charles Karchner banged a triple off the wall in deep left center field.  Yannuzzi followed it up with a Texas League single scoring Karchner, but was stranded at second.

Greater Allegheny loaded the bases to open the 4th inning and chase Michalesko. He finished the day throwing 3 innings, giving up 9 runs-7 earned, allowing 8 hits while giving up 3 BB's, striking out 1 and throwing 1 Wild Pitch.  Yannuzzi came to the mound and was promptly greeted by a bases-clearing double by Dylan Earns but Earnst was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.  A walk, a wild pitch and a single combined with a stolen base and another single brought in the final two runs of the inning making the score 11-4 in favor of Greater Allegheny. 

Hazleton would once again get on the board in the 4th inning when Tanner Lawrence singled and Karchner followed it up with his second triple of the day. Greater Allegheny would hit the mercey rule number in the top of the 5th when they got three consecutive singles combined with a wild pitch, a walk and another single adding to the 10 run game with 4 runs in the inning. With two outs, Kindler and Guarnera singled to put runners on first and second before a final strikeout closed the door and ended the game.

For Hazleton, Karchner had a big game at the plate going 2-3 with two triples, Guarnara was 2-3 with a double; Kindler and Yannuzzi had 2 hits apiece, and Lawrence, Stauffer and Tejeda all added singles. Hazlelton added 3 stolen bases and a Sac on the day, but the tell-tale stat was the 11 K's and 3 errors while only taking 1 walk.