Hazleton wins pair over Wilkes-Barre

Hazleton, Pa. - The Penn State Hazleton Baseball team earned their first conference wins on Friday, taking two games from Penn State Wilkes-Barre at the Hazle Township Babe Ruth field. The Lions came back from a 3-1 deficit midway through the game, scoring runs in the sixth and seventh innings to win 4-3 in game one. Later in the day, Hazleton envoked the 10 run rule, topping Wilkes-Barre 12-2 in five innings to secure their second conference victory and series split with Wilkes-Barre. 

Game one: Penn State Wilkes-Barre 3, Penn State Hazleton 4 - Final

Chilly weather favored the pitchers on Friday as both squads failed to create much offense and combined for just five hits between the two teams. Hazleton got on the board first following a double by fourth year player Eddie Wess. Wess stole third shortly after and was driven in by second year catcher Andrew Meitzler to put the Lions up 1-0. But Wilkes-Barre rallied in the third inning, posting three runs on the board off second year hurler Eli Tyrrell despite the pitcher allowing just one hit in the inning. That hit would prove to be the only knock in the game for Wilkes-Barre although the visitors would maintain the lead until the bottom of the fifth inning. There, Meitzler cashed in his second RBI of the afternoon, once again coming via a sacrifice fly to tie the game a 3-3.

Tyrrell exited the game after five innings of work, allowing two earned runs on one hit and four walks while striking out an impressive eight Wilkes-Barre hitters. Eddie Wess would come to the mound in relief of Tyrrell, tossing two clean innings to give Hazleton an opportunity to pull ahead. In the bottom of the sixth, Hazleton struck for the go ahead run after second year player Maximus Cuevas reached on an error by the Wilkes-Barre shortstop. Cuevas stole second base and continued his impressive base running one batter latter when he scored on a slow grounder to the second baseman, giving Hazleton the 4-3 lead and ultimately the win. 

Game two: Penn State Wilkes-Barre 2, Penn State Hazleton 12 - Final, 5 Innings

Unlike game one, the Nittany Lions never trailed in game two despite earning just six hits in the ball game. Hazleton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Meitzler continued to have a productive day, this time cashing in two runs on a double to left center field. Hazleton expanded their cushion to four runs in the in third inning, with a productive out by first year player Briar Campbell and RBI double by Cuevas. On the mound for Hazleton, first year player Gavin Wallace cruised through the first three innings, but three walks in the fourth frame spelled trouble for the Hazleton starter. With the bases loaded, Wilkes-Barre plated their first score on a fielder's choice groundout and one play later, tallied a second run on a botched throw down to second base. Depsite the miscues, Hazleton remained in control with a 4-2 cushion and Wallace would retire Wilkes-Barre in order in the top of the fifth. 

Hazleton chased the Wilkes-Barre starting pitcher out of the game after two walks in the bottom of the fifth inning and the wheels would come off the wagon for the visiting team. Ultimately, Wilkes-Barre issued Hazleton five free passes in the inning and committed four errors as Hazleton surged for eight runs in the inning to close out the game and give Wallace the win. Eddie Wess finished the game as Hazleton's top hitter, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Andrew Meitzler finished 1-for-3 with three RBI while third year player Eric Sonntag, Campbell and second year player Tyler Sewell ended the game with two RBI each. Wallace finished the game with a line of two earned runs allowed on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts to his credit. 

Next up: Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton were set to square off again over the weekend, but poor weather has led to a postponement of the second double-header. Stay tuned for updates on the make-up date. As it stands, Hazleton's next scheduled contest comes late next week as the Lion start a four game set with Penn State York on Thursday, March 28.