DIV-3
Wildcats Sweep Season Finale, Clinch NEAC Playoff Berth; Kittle Blasts Three Homeruns on the Day
Reading, Pa. – Penn College swept Penn State Berks by the scores of 11-5 and 7-4 on Wednesday afternoon. With the victories Penn College finishes the regular season 9-11 overall/NEAC. The Wildcats have clinched a playoff berth and will open the playoffs next weekend at a time and place to be determined.
In game one
How it Happened: Penn College broke open the game with a five run 5th inning led by a Britan Kittle two-run homerun to dead center. Kittle's homerun which made it 3-0 was followed up by a Tyler Rudolph RBI double to left center, a Brayden Lippert RBI single to center and an RBI sac fly by Jake Wagner to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats padded their lead in the top of the 6th as they scored four runs without recording a hit. Penn State Berks pitchers hit two batters and walked four in the inning allowing Penn College to take a 10-1 lead. After the Nittany Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the 6th to close the score to 10-5, Rudolph hit another RBI double to left center to give the Wildcats their final run of the game.
Inside the Box: Rudolph led the Wildcats offensively with three hits (all doubles) two RBI's and two runs scored. Kittle finished with two hits (including his 6th homerun of the season), three RBI's and two runs scored. Jacob Carles, Shane Price and Kolten Smith all added multi hit efforts in the game
Justin Porter picked up his second win of the season. Porter allowed five runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings of work.
In game two
How it Happened: After trailing 2-0 after two-innings Penn College scored two runs in the top of the 3rd on a Carles RBI double to left center and Kittle RBI double down the leftfield line. After giving up a run in the bottom of the 3rd, Carles tied the game with a homerun to right. Kittle followed with his second blast of the day launching a homerun to left. Rudolph plated the final run in the inning on an RBI single to center. Kittle added his third homer of the day in the top of the 9th to pad the Wildcats lead at 7-3.
Inside the Box: Carles finished with two hits, two RBI's and two runs scored. Kittle had three hits, three RBI's and two runs scored. Shane Price added a pair of hits.
Ben Bretzman picked up the win in relief of Cole Culver. Bretzman allowed no runs and just two hits in three innings of work. Joe Fatzinger picked up his third save of the season.
Up Next: Penn College will await their fate in the NEAC Baseball playoffs. The semifinal series will be played next weekend, May 9th and 10th.