Bats stay hot but BB splits with Beaver
The Penn State Fayette baseball team remained hot at the plate Tuesday in its doubleheader against Penn State Beaver as it tallied 21 runs over the two games.
However, Fayette (9-9 overall, 9-8 PSUAC) had to settle for a split with Beaver (4-18, 2-18) as it won the opener, 12-0, before losing the second game, 10-9.
The nightcap loss ended Fayette's season-best five game winning streak, and since the undefeated run started on April 16, Fayette outscored its opponents 79-38.
In the six-inning opener, Fayette scored eight runs on seven hits in the second inning to take control of the game.
Chris Rendulic (Port Vue, PA/South Allegheny HS) opened the scoring when he singled in two. Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) followed with a two-run double, and Noah Hansen (New Kensington, PA/Kiski Area HS) followed with a two-run single of his own. After Fayette added an unearned run, Kade Musgrove (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS) singled in the last run of the inning.
The 8-0 score held until the fourth when Cade Warrick (Mill Run, PA/Connellsville HS) doubled in a run to make it 9-0 and then Fayette closed out the scoring in the sixth with three more runs. Warrick recorded an RBI triple and then both Musgrove and Rendulic singled in runs.
Warrick led the 14-hit attack with two singles, a double and a triple and Musgrove had three singles while TJ Lux (West Newton, PA/Yough HS), Hansen, and Rendulic each had two hits. Rendulic led Fayette with three RBI while Zimcosky, Hansen, Warrick and Musgrove each drove in two runs apiece.
Hansen went the distance on the mound and limited Beaver to four hits. He struck out four batters and did not walk any.
In the nightcap, Fayette trailed 10-5 after five innings but scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to trim its deficit to a single run. But with the tying run on base and only one out in the seventh, Fayette could not get the run across.
Lux, Matt Morgan (Eighty-Four, PA/Ringgold HS), Nik Gibson (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS), Andrew Despot (Moon, PA/Moon HS) and Alex Gesk (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) each recorded two hits in the game. Both of Despot's safeties were doubles and Morgan added one of his own.
Lux and Warrick led Fayette with two RBI each.
Rendulic started on the mound and went four innings. He gave up seven runs, three earned, and nine hits. He struck out two and walked one. Musgrove went the last three innings and gave up three earned runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Justyn Francona finished with a home run, two singles and four RBI for Beaver while Scott Hughes added a double.
The two teams play again Thursday at Fayette.
For more on the Penn State Fayette baseball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/bsb/index.