DIV-3
Wildcats Stay Alive in NEAC Semifinals; Robison has Two Home Run Day at the Plate
Abington, Pa. – Penn College survived to play another day after bouncing back from a 16-3 game one defeat to Penn State Abington by winning game two 10-6. With the win the Wildcats and Nittany Lions will play the rubber match tomorrow at Noon in Abington. The winner of game three will advance to the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championship series.
In game one
How it Happened: With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the second inning Brian Robinson launched a home run to left to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, it would be the only lead of the game as the Nittany Lions put up a four run bottom half of the second and never looked back en route to a 16-3 win.
Inside the Box: Robison led the way for the Wildcats offensively finishing with two hits including his solo home run. Ethan Ketterman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run to center field.
Ben Bretzman (3-3) took the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) in 4.1 innings of work. The Wildcats pitching staff as a whole was plagued with 15 walks, two balks and one hit by batter.
In game two
How it Happened: Penn College jumped out of the gates early with five runs in the first three innings. Tyler Rudolph started the scoring in the first inning with a two-run double to center that scored Brittan Kittle and Jake Wagner. Leading 2-1 after the first Robison hit his second home run of the afternoon; this time a two-run opposite field shot to right to put the Wildcats ahead 4-1. The long ball continued to prove productive for the Wildcats offense as Rudolph hit a solo shot to left in the top of the third to extend the lead to 5-1. Leading 5-2 in the top of the fifth the Wildcats plated three more runs to give themselves some breathing room courtesy of a Christian Perna RBI double down the right field line and a two-RBI single by Ketterman. Heading into the ninth and leading 8-5 the Wildcats plated two insurance runs to go up 10-5. Shane Price continued the home run parade for the Wildcats with his own solo shot to left field. Penn State Abington attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth; however, Justin Porter was able to work out of a minor jam and finished off his complete game victory for the Wildcats.
Inside the Box: Perna led the Wildcats with a 3-for-4 effort from the plate. Rudolph has a nice two hit, two-RBI and two-runs scored effort and Jacob Carles finished with a pair of hits for the Wildcats. Penn College outhit Penn State Abington 12-10 for the game.
Justin Porter (3-2) pitched a gutsy 9-inning complete game in which he threw 126 pitches. Porter allowed 10 hits, six runs (all earned) while striking out nine Nittany Lions batters. It was a very important outing from Porter that not only extended the Wildcats season but also saved some of the bullpens arms for tomorrow's all hands on deck series finale.
Up Next: Penn College and Penn State Abington will meet again tomorrow at Noon for the winner takes all game three of the NEAC semifinal series.