BB splits weekend games
The Penn State Fayette baseball team split a pair of games over the weekend as it defeated Allegany College of Maryland 9-2 Friday before falling to Point Park Reserve Saturday, 7-1.
First-year head coach Ryan Encapera spoke about Friday's win.
"It feels good to get a win against a talented team ((ACM), especially after losing our last five games," he said. "Our guys bounced back with a solid defensive effort and some timely hitting."
Friday, the Nittany Lions pounded out 13 hits and were led by Cade Warrick (Mill Run, PA/Connellsville HS) who had three hits, including a double, and five RBI while Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) had a double and two singles, and both Andrew Despot (Moon, PA/Moon Area HS) and Kade Musgrove (Dunbar, PA/Connellsville HS) recorded two singles apiece.
Fayette scored four first inning runs and never looked back. Down 1-0 with the bases loaded, Warrick hit a three-run double and two batters later, Kaleb Scott (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) drove in Warrick with a sacrifice fly.
"Our first inning set the tone for the game," Encapera said. "We had a bunch of quality at-bats and Cade's bases clearing double gave us momentum early. He also helped put the game away in the sixth with an RBI single, and he has been swinging the bat well for us lately."
Fayette extended their lead to 5-1 in the second when Zimcosky drove in Kyle Ridley (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS) who had singled to lead off the inning.
The Nittany Lions put the game away in the sixth as they put four more runs on the board. With one out, Dylan Bohna (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands, PA) homered and three batters later, Warrick singled in two more runs and Matt Morgan (Eighty-Four, PA/Ringgold HS) had a bases loaded walk to close out Fayette's scoring for the game.
The first four batters in Fayette's lineup (Bohna, Zimcosky, Despot and Musgrove) combined for 10 hits, eight runs and seven RBI.
Chris Rendulic (Port Vue, PA/South Allegheny HS) went the distance on the mound for Fayette. He gave up two runs, only one was earned, on six hits and struck out 10.
"Chris had great command of the zone and turned in a fantastic performance," Encapera said. "When we pitch and make the plays like we did today, we are a tough team to beat."
Against Point Park Reserve (PPR), the Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead in the second when Josh Burns (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) drove in Scott. However, PPR tied the game in the fourth and took the lead for good in the fifth when it scored four runs. It tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth.
Bohna (two singles) and Burns (double and single) led Fayette with two hits apiece.
"We didn't swing it well," said Encapera after the loss to PPR. "As a team, we didn't have consistent approaches at the plate. Lots of pop-ups and rollovers let them play without pressure. We also had (very) few baserunners. They took advantage of our defensive mistakes in the fifth inning and that made the difference in the outcome."
Kole Koontz (Dawson, PA/Connellsville HS) went six innings and gave up five runs, four earned, to take the loss while Scott pitched the last three innings, giving up two unearned runs.
"On a positive note, our pitchers kept us in the game," Encapera said. "It just wasn't enough."
The Nittany Lions (3-8) return to action Tuesday when they host Bethany. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
For more information on the Penn State Fayette baseball team, go to https://www.psathletics.com/sports/bsb/index or follow the team on Instagram @fayetteathletics.