Hazleton wraps up spring break with win over Salem Community College

Myrtle Beach, Sc. - The Nittany Lions wrapped up their week-long spring training event on Friday on a high note, securing their first victory of the trip with a 10-9 win over Salem Community College at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, Sc. Despite 1-7 record in the Palmetto state, Hazleton was competitive in most of their matchups during the week, losing five of their seven defeats by four runs or fewer including three, narrow one-run losses. 

Several Nittany Lions stood out offensively during the busy week. Third year player Eric Sonntag (Horsham, Pa.) proved to be the top run producer over the eight game stretch, driving in five runs on six hits with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base. Senior Eddie Wess (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) nabbed four hits while driving in three runs himself while second year player Maximus Cuevas (Houston, Tx.) tallied five hits, two RBI and four runs scored. Other Hazleton players with solid efforts during the week included fourth year player Solomon Grant (Williamsport, Pa.) who went 4-for-13 with two RBI and three runs scored, third year player Shea Morgan (Pine Grove, Pa.) who went 4-for-12 with four runs scored and four stolen bases, first year player Briar Campbell (Halifax, Pa.) who went 4-for-12 with a double and two runs scored and Chase Petrilyak (Tresckow, Pa.) who finished the week 2-for-9 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. 

From the pitching mound, second year hurler Eli Tyrrell (Halifax, Pa.) made two starts for Hazleton, pitching six strong innings in a loss to Bay College where he struck out 10 batters in a 4-0 defeat and followed that effort with a no decision in Hazleton's win over Salem Community College after allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings of work. First year picther Zach Brister (Clarks Summit, Pa.) picked up the win in that outing, tossing the final inning of the game as Hazleton rallied for a four-run seventh inning to claim a 10-9 walk-off victory. Other notable pitching efforts included Solomon Grant who made two appearances, throwing 6.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs along with first year pitcher Gavin Wallace (Lehman, Pa.) who tossed seven innings two appearances where he allowed just two earned runs. 

The biggest roadblock for the Lions was the defensive effort with Hazleton committing 22 errors in eight games. Those errors cost the Lions 29 runs in favor of their opponents during the eight game stretch. Hazleton will look to clean up those miscues when they return to action in Pennsylvania this week, while continuing to improve their hitting as they gear up for the 2024 conference schedule. Hazleton has two non-conference bouts on the schedule this week with Hazleton facing King's College on Wednesday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., followed by a weekend home double-header with Bryant & Stratton Syracuse on Saturday, March 16.