Penn State Scranton Baseball Drops Doubleheader to Brandywine

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

It was sweet Friday night lights action at the Maple Zone, as the Penn State Scranton Lions baseball squad lost both ends of their doubleheader for the second straight day to conference rival Penn State Brandywine, this time by the scores of 15-3 in game one and a tight 9-6 ball game in the game two nightcap. With these defeats, Scranton sees their overall record move to 2-12 and 0-4 in the all-important league play schedule.

In the opening contest, the Lions from Brandywine scored early and often, as they put up three runs in the first inning, four more in the fifth, four in the sixth, and four in the seventh and final frame, as they cruised to their dominant 12 run triumph. Meanwhile, Scranton tallied a run in the second inning, one in the third, and lastly, one more in the seventh. Brandywine also won in the hit department over Scranton by an 11-7 margin.

Scranton had the dynamic duo of sophomore second baseman Mike DeWolfe and freshman infielder Alex Ferguson who led the way on offense with their stalwart multi-hit performances. DeWolfe went 2-4 at the dish, scoring a run, and stole a base to boot. Ferguson was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI. Scranton's other three base hits came off the bats of freshman shortstop Alex Pagotto, fellow freshman Thomas McIntyre, and stand-out senior center fielder Mark Longo, who each recorded a hit apiece. The Lions other RBI came from McIntyre and senior right fielder Justin Craigg.

Meanwhile, Brandywine had a trio of players who put up multi-hit ball games in the matchup, as junior catcher Mike DeGirolamo, sophomore Shawn Webb, and freshman designated hitter Ryan Brown set the pace for their club. DeGirolamo had a game-high three hits, as he went a perfect 3-3 at the plate, with a pair of RBI, and a run scored. Webb was 2-4, with a hat trick of RBI, scored twice, and crushed a home run. Last but certainly not least, Brown was a flawless 2-2 at the dish, walking twice, and scored a run.

On the pitching side of things, McIntyre started for Scranton on the mound and took the loss in his gritty five innings of work, giving up just four earned runs, and struck out a batter for good measure. McIntyre was relieved on the bump by a trio of hurlers, as freshman Ryan Vinton, sophomore Raphael Carvalho, and Ferguson ate up the rest of the innings for their team. Meanwhile, Brandywine had senior right-hander Dan Nearey toe the slab and earn the victory in his start, as he threw a high quality six innings, only surrendering two earned runs, six hits, three walks, and fanned eight Scranton batters on the day. Finally, sophomore righty Justin Bray threw the last inning for his squad and gave up an earned run, a base hit, and struck out a hitter.

In the game two nightcap seven inning affair, it was a back-and-forth ball game, as Brandywine scored once in the first inning, one in the second, two more in the third, four in the fourth, and a big insurance run in the sixth frame, while Scranton tallied a robust four runs in the bottom half of the second inning, and two in the third, before being held scoreless in the final four frames of the contest and dropping a close three run decision. Scranton did out slug Brandywine in the hit department by a slim 9-8 margin.

The Lions from Scranton had a pair of players have multi-hit performances in game two, as infielders Pagotto and Vinton led the way on offense. Pagotto was 2-4 at the dish, drilling two doubles, driving in two runs, and scored once. Vinton went 2-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Scranton's other five hits in the game came from DeWolfe, McIntyre, Longo, Ferguson, and freshman Guy Mushow, who each had a hit apiece during the diamond festivities. The Lions other RBI in the showdown came from Ferguson who had a pair of them and DeWolfe had one as well.

Meanwhile, Brandywine had the dynamic senior duo of second baseman Nick Wright and first baseman Kyle Oechsle who had sterling multi-hit performances. Wright went 2-5 at the plate, with a double, a pair of RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base to boot. Oechsle was 2-3, hammering a double, stole a game-high three bases, walked once, and scored a run.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started Mushow on the mound, as he took the loss while tossing 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs, five hits, walked eight batters, and struck out a hitter. Craigg threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and fanned a trio of Brandywine batters in his appearance. Finally, Longo threw the final two innings for Scranton where he gave up just one earned run, three hits, and struck out two hitters in his outing. Meanwhile, Brandywine started senior right-hander Matt Brucato, as he threw two innings, gave up four earned runs, four hits, a pair of walks, and struck out two Scranton batters. Freshman righty Ryan Snyder earned the victory in relief, as he threw a top notch four innings out of the bullpen, giving up just two earned runs, four hits, two bases on balls, and fanned six hitters. Lastly, freshman southpaw Michael Govan picked up the save for his ball club, as he threw the final inning to wrap up the long day of baseball festivities, without giving up any runs or walks, gave up just one lone base hit, and struck out two batters in his solid outing.

Now second-year head coach Collin Ferguson and his 2-12 Penn State Scranton baseball team will look to snap their six game losing skid when they next host non-conference foe Valley Forge in a nine inning affair this upcoming Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3pm. Meanwhile, head coach Vinny Gallo and his Penn State Brandywine ball club, who with their victories over Scranton see their overall record improve to 12-7 and a perfect 4-0 in the crucial league play schedule, will look to extend their six game winning streak when they next go on the road to face off against Penn State Berks this Tuesday at 3pm for a lone nine inning battle.