BB scores 22 runs on 27 hits in sweep of GA
The Penn State Fayette baseball team improved its winning streak to four games Sunday with a double header sweep at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Fayette won both games of the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) twin bill by 11-8 scores, and it collected 27 hits between the two games. Kade Musgrove (Dunbar, PA/Connellsville HS), Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) and Cade Warrick (Mill Run, PA/Connellsville HS) each finished with five hits while both Josh Burns (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) and Matt Morgan (Eighty-Four, PA/Ringgold HS) tallied four apiece. Zimcosky had a triple, double, three singles, four RBI and scored five runs, Musgrove had a double and four singles while scoring four runs and Warrick had five singles, drove in four runs and scored three of his own. Morgan finished the doubleheader with five RBI for the day. Kaleb Scott (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) had two doubles, a pair of RBI and scored twice in the opener to go along with the save in the game.
First year head coach Ryan Encapera discussed the day.
"Ironically, we won both games with the same score," he said. "In Game 1, it was a hard-fought nine-inning game. (Chirs) Rendula kept us in the game with his pitching. Our guys came through and we had a big inning (in the seventh). We played together and with a lot of spirit. Our chemistry was good, we had a couple of bunts, hit with runners on base and hit the gaps. Scott had the save, and he was great."
Greater Allegheny (GA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Fayette tied the game in the top of the fifth with three unearned runs. GA scored in the bottom of the inning, but Fayette tied it back up in the top of the sixth when Burns scored after doubling and coming in when Morgan reached on an error.
Fayette blew the game open in the seventh as it scored five times to take a 9-4 lead. Warrick singled in two runs, Burns doubled in two more runs and Bobby Wolfson (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin HS) singled in Burns. However, GA didn't waste any time getting back in the game in the bottom of the inning as it scored four runs to trim Fayette's lead to 9-8.
Encapera made the switch from Rendulic to Scott in the seventh and he shut down GA as he only allowed one hit between the eighth and ninth innings.
In the eighth, Fayette added a run on a fielder's choice and another on a Morgan single.
Rendulic went six innings and gave up eight runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked four. Scott gave up three hits, struck out four and walked two in his three innings of work.
Fayette was the home team for the second game and never trailed as it scored twice in the first. Warrick singled in Zimcosky for the game's first run and Warrick scored on a wild pitch.
In the second, Fayette scored four more runs to make the score 6-0. Zimcosky singled in a run before Fayette scored on a bases loaded walk and then twice when batters were hit by pitches with the bases loaded.
After GA scored a run in the third, Fayette scored two more in the fourth when Morgan singled in Warrick and Andrew Despot (Moon, PA/Moon Area HS).
Up 8-1 going into the fifth, GA scored seven runs on eight hits to tie the game. However, Fayette grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the inning when Zimcosky singled in Musgrove.
In the sixth, Fayette tacked on two insurance runs when Burns and Morgan scored on a wild pitch.
Kole Koontz (Dawson, PA/Connellsville HS) started on the mound for Fayette and gave up eight runs on 15 hits in 4.2 innings. Scott picked up the win as he limited GA to only one hit and no runs in 2.1 innings.
Encapera spoke about the game.
"Game 2 started off pretty well and we were winning 8-1," he said. "Koontz pitched well early, and we scored almost every inning. Koontz had one bad inning, we misplayed a flyball, and the next thing you know, it is 8-8. We came back and had a couple of huge at-bats. When we scored in the 6th, a couple of bounces went our way. Overall, things really clicked today. It is two huge wins against a really tough team. That team is really good but we outplayed them today."
With the two wins, Fayette (7-12 overall, 4-3 PSUAC) is now only a half-game back of GA (9-12, 5-3) for third place in the PSUAC West. Fayette is scheduled to return to action Tuesday when it hosts Penn State Beaver (2-8, 1-5). The game is the first of 10 scheduled games over 15 days for Fayette.
"The way we have been playing, the weather is holding us back and we have some games we need to win," Encapera said. "We have been on a little bit of a roll, but it is one game at a time and one inning at a time. We are doing what we can for each other."
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.