BB eliminated from PSAUC tourney
Playing in their postseason game in six years, the Penn State Fayette baseball team was eliminated from the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) tournament Saturday with a 6-2 loss to Penn State Mont Alto.
After the game, first-year Fayette coach Ryan Encapera shared his thoughts.
"It's a shame one inning was the difference, but it was," said Encapera. "When you play a good team, it's extremely hard to erase the damage done if you give up five runs in one inning early. I really believe if we had scored when we threatened in the first two innings, the result would have been different. Other than the second inning, (Chris) Rendulic cruised through their lineup. Our hitting into double plays sparked momentum for them each time."
After Fayette (9-19) left two runners on in both the first and second innings, Mont Alto (23-9) scored five runs in the bottom of the second on four hits and it was also aided by a pair of Fayette errors. Mont Alto scored an insurance run in the fourth to make the score 6-0 before Fayette scored its two runs in the seventh. Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) doubled in Kyle Ridley (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS) and Andrew Despot (Moon, PA/Moon Area HS) scored on a fielder's choice to close out the scoring.
Zimcosky, who entered the game leading the PSUAC and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), finished with hits (double and two singles) in all three of his at-bats.
Rendulic (Port Vue, PA/South Allegheny HS) scattered eight hits over six innings and only gave up one run after the five-run second. He struck out four batters.
Encapera was proud of his team's effort until the very end.
"Our guys fought to the last out and never gave up," Encapera said. "It's disappointing to end the season like this, but that shouldn't overshadow what we accomplished."
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.
For more information on the PSUAC baseball playoffs, go to https://psuacsports.com/sports/bsb/index.