Sloppy Play Once Again Hurts Penn State Hazeton; They Fall in Extra Innings To WIlliamson 6-5 in Nightcap.

The Penn State Hazleton baseball team committed 7 errors in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Williamson College allowing the home team back in the game and giving up a 6-5 victory in extra innings.  After only getting four hits in the opener, the Hazleton bats came alive in the second game, and starting pitcher Colin Stauffer threw deep into the 7th inning for the first time this season.  However, the Nittany Lions once again allowed errors to let their opponent back into the game and add pitches to Stauffer's numbers when they committed 7 miscues throughout the 8 inning game.

Two errors in the second allowed Williamson to get on the board first and lead 1-0.  Two innings later, Stauffer led off the 4th with a deep bomb over the center field fence and tied the game 1-1. The Lions got right back at it in the 5th when Tanner Lawrence walked to open the frame.  Adam Michalesko followed it up with a single and both runners moved up on a wid pitch.  After a strikout, James Brielmeier laid down a beautiful sac bunt that scored Lawrence to put the Lions up, 2-1.  In the bottom half of the frame, the home team tied it up on yet another Lion misque when the right fielder misplayed a single allowing the ball to roll to the fence and the runner going all the way to third.  On the ensuing throw to the infield, the ball was thrown over thirdbase and out of play bringing the tying run to the plate and knotting the score at 2 each.

Jordy Tejeda got things rolling in the 6th for the Lions when he took a leadoff walk and chased starting pitcher Jereimi Ortiz.   Bobby Jones came to the mound for the second consecutive game in relief. Tim Kindler followed it up with a walk of his own, putting Lion runners at 1st and 2nd; a wild pitch then moved both runners up into scoring position.  After a strikeout, Charles Karchner singled scoring Tejada, but Kindler was caught at third for the out when he tried to get his way to third. Karchner then scored on an error by the Williamson second baseman when he misplayed a Tanner Lawrence grounder.  Adam Michalesko then drilled a shot to deep left center for a triple and scoring Lawrence in the process.  He was then stranded at third on a strikeout and the top half of the inning ended with Hazleton winning, 5-2. 

In their half of the frame, a leadoff single by C.J. Cardell followed by a a home run to left field by Bobby Jones pulled the Mechanics within one run.  Tom Catenacci then singled, stole second and scored on a Brendan Regan single and an error after the ball was misplayed in the ourfield. The game was once again tied, this time 5-5.

Hazleton went down quietly in the 7th and had to hold down a Mechanic uprising.  Adam Michalesko came on to pitch for the Lions quickly coaxed a fly ball for the first out.  A double by Corey Schuff by yet another Hazleton error put Mechanic's runners on second and third with only that one out.  Michalesko then beared down and struck out both remaining Mechanics to end the inning and the Williamson threat.

Things looked grim for the Lions when Kindler lofted a fly ball to right field for the first out and Guarners struck out t make it two.  However Karchner started off a potential Hazleton rally by getting plunked for the second time in the game. Lawrence then hit an infield single to put runners at first and second only to see Jones uncork a wild pitch and move them both he and Karchner up a base.  A walk to Michalesko loaded the bases setting the stage for some extra inning drama for the Lions.  The Hazleton threat ended however with no damage when The Mechanics right fielder made a diving catch on a shallow liner off the bat of Dominic Yannuzzi stranding all three runners.  In the bottom half of the frame, Catenacci once again hurt the Lions as he stroked a lead-off double. He then moved to third on a ground out to third baseman Lawrence and scored the winning run when Mike Naumann stroked a single to right.  The final score in eight innings found Williamson winning 6-5.

With the loss, the Lions drop to 0-7 on the season in non-conference games and Williamson at 2-3.  On the day, Stauffer had a good outing on the mound in the no-decision giving up 5 runs-3 earned, while giving up 7 hits, issuing 3 walks and striking out 6.  In taking the loss in relief, Michalesko gave up the one earned run on 3 hits, issuing no walks and striking out 2.  At the plate, Lawrence's two sigles and Michaleskos' triple and single led the Lions with Kindler, Karchner and Tejeda all having singles.  Stauffer's solo home run was his first as well as the first team dinger of the season.

The Lions are back in action Monday when they travel to Annville, PA to take on the JV squad of Lebanon Valley College in an exhibition game.  Start time for the seven inning tilt is scheduled for 3:30 pm at McGill Field.