Lions reel off two wins over the weekend

Hazleton, Pa - The Nittany Lions nabbed a pair of wins over the weekend, improving their record to 4-9 on the year in non-conference play. Hazleton secured the victories over Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse in a Saturday double-header, besting the Bobcats in game one by the score of 11-6 before walking off the Bobcats in game two on a three-run home run by second year player Maxiumus Cuevas (Houston, Tx.) that envoked the ten run rule in the sixth inning. 

Game One: Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse 6, Penn State Hazleton 11

Hazleton allowed an early one run lead to the Bobcats but the offense heated up quickly for the Lions on Saturday. Hazleton would go on to score in all of their six trips on offense, steadily piling up the runs and building an eight run lead by the final inning. Hazleton surrendered three scores in the final frame, but the Lions were able to weave their way out of trouble without burning up the bullpen. Fourth year player Solomon Grant (Williamsport, Pa.) along with first year player Zach Brister (Clarks Summit, Pa.) led the offense with multi-hit efforts. Grant hit a solo home run in the second inning and finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI while Brister went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored on two extra base hits. First year player Briar Campbell (Halifax, Pa.) added a pair of RBI in a 1-for-3 effort respectively. Second year pitcher Eli Tyrrell (Halifax, Pa.) earned his first win of the season, tossing five innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out five Bobcat hitters. 

Game Two: Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse 5, Penn State Hazleton 17 - Final, 6 Innings

Game two saw the Nittany Lions trail again after their first trip on defense but the offense would bookend the game with a warm start and a hot finish. After surging ahead for a 4-1 lead, the Hazleton bats were held in check leading to a 4-3 game after 3.5 innings of play. But as Hazleton the Bobcats to dip into the bullpen, the offense came back to life, scoring 13 runs in their final three at bats. The Lions took advantage of eight walks and eight hit batsmen, adding 12 hits of their own to secure the mercy rule win. Five Nittany Lions picked up multiple hits during the game including Cuevas who went 2-for-4 with six RBI in game two. Other Nittany Lions with big efforts included Campbell who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI, third year players Eric Sonntag (Horsham, Pa.) and Shea Morgan (Pine Grove, Pa.) with Sonntag notching two hits with two RBI and three runs scored while Morgan scoring twice on two hits with one RBI. Rounding out the top efforts on offense were second year player Andrew Meitzler (Saylorsburg, Pa.) who went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored along with second year player Jake Barto (Schnecksville, Pa.) who drove in a pair of runs on one hit. First year hurler Gavin Wallace (Lehman, Pa.) secured his second win of the season, throwing 4.1 innings on Saturday. Wallace allowed three earned on four hits and four walks while striking out six hitters in the winning effort. 

Next up: The Hazleton Nittany Lions continue non-conference play on Tuesday when Hazleton travels to Harrisburg, Pa. for a double-header with Central Penn College. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. at FNB Field on City Island.