Lions offense powers their way to pair of wins at Williamson

Media, Pa. - It was a monster performance for the Nittany Lions on Sunday who scored a combined 44 runs in a double-header sweep of Williamson College of the Trades on Sunday afternoon. Hazleton racked up 18 hits in the first game to run away from Williamson in the first game by the score of 28-10 in five innings. The Lions were limited to just eight knocks in the second end of the double-header but took advantage of 11 free passes from the Mechanics to tally 16 runs and seal up their third win of the season by the score of 16-2. 

Game One - Penn State Hazleton 28, Williamson College of the Trades 10 - Final, 5 Innings

Hazleton surged ahead early in the series opener, tallying 16 runs in their first three at-bats including an 11 run second frame from the Nittany Lions that featured a three-run double by sophomore Jared Joyce (Jim Thorpe, Pa.). Hazleton had this one all but wrapped up until the bottom of the third frame when Williamson responded with 10 runs over their next two at-bats thanks in part to four walks and three Hazleton fielding errors. Hazleton still maintained an 18-10 cushion after four innings of play but the Nittany Lion offense would bat around for the second time in the game in their next at-bat. Hazleton loaded the bases at the start of the fifth inning and cashed in their 19th run of the game on a bases loaded free pass to senior Ryan Wingerter (Dingman's Ferry, Pa.). After a strikeout to the next batter, senior Bryce Dalpiaz (Liverpool, Pa.) struck for a grand slam, putting Hazleton on top 23-10. The Lions went on to cash in five more runs in the frame, putting Williamson in jeopardy of the mercy rule. Freshman Avery Edmonds (Nazareth, Pa.) came into the game to pitch the fifth inning sporting an 18 run advantage and sealed up the win, allowing two base runners but striking out the final two batters to close out the win. 

Hazleton was led by Dalpiaz who finished 3-for-5 with six RBI and a triple short of the cycle. Sophomore Jared Marykwas (Jim Thorpe, Pa.) went 3-for-5 with five RBI and four runs scored while Jared Joyce and Ryan Wingerter both added four RBI efforts. Freshman Eli Tyrell (Halifax, Pa.) earned the win with just two hits allowed and zero runs scored against. 

Game Two - Penn State Hazleton 16, Williamson College of the Trades 2 - Final 5 Innings

Hazleton and Williamson's second matchup of the day was a much different ball game at the start of things. After a two run start to the game for Hazleton, senior Mark Kokinda (Lansford, Pa.) became embroiled in a pitching duel for three innings. Kokinda and the Lions led the Mechanics 3-2 heading into the top half of the fourth frame but that's when the offense began to click once more for the Lions. After Williamson retired the first two batters of the inning, Hazleton proceeded to load the bases. Williamson pitching would walk in a pair of Hazleton base runners before making a change on the hill but that did little to slow down the offense. Freshman Hunter Schmidt (Northampton, Pa.) cleared the bases with a three RBI double, putting Hazleton up 8-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. After retiring the side on defense, the Lions poured on eight more runs in the top half of the fifth frame, all of which came one at a time. The Lions were aided by a Mechanics error and four runs came in via walk or hit batsmen, giving Hazleton a healthy 16-2 cushion and allowing a relatively stress free final inning. 

Senior Colin Hoy (Harlysville, Pa.) scored four times in the ball game, going 2-for-2 with an RBI in the win. Marykwas continued his stellar afternoon with a 2-for-2 effort in game two, addingin two runs scored and two RBI while junior Eddie Wess (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) registered two hits in three at bats with two runs scored and a pair of RBI in the win. 

Next up: The Lions have the bulk of the upcoming week off to prepare for their first conference games of the season. Hazleton will square off with Penn State Schuylkill on Friday, March 24 and 25, with the first double-header of the series being played at Penn State Schuylkill at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.