Lions Finish Spring Break Trip Strong With Win Over Ancilla College

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

LOCATION: Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Game 1

SCORE: Penn College 14, Penn State Mont Alto 2 (F)

IN BRIEF: Penn College had the bats working early and often scoring two runs in each of the first, third and fourth innings, added one in the fifth, three in the sixth and put up a four spot in the eighth as it beat Penn State Mont Alto, 14-2. 

It was certainly a sloppy game in the field for the Lions as they combined for seven errors, which marks a season-high. The Penn College pitching staff kept the PSU Mont Alto hitters off balance all game long as the Lions were only able to muster four hits. Colby Black, Tyler Martin, Joel Clabaugh and Nathan Culp each recorded a hit.

The Lions finally were able to get on the board in the ninth inning when Brady Topper scored on a passed ball and was followed up by a Colby Black RBI single to right field.

Joel Clabaugh took the loss on the mound and fell to 0-2 after five innings of work. He fanned six, walked four, scattered five hits and was charged with six earned runs. Nicholas Malone and Garrett Gardenhour combined for three innings of work out of the bullpen and duo gave up seven runs on eight hits, while striking out six.

Game 2

SCORE: New River Community College 12, Penn State Mont Alto 2 (F)

IN BRIEF: New River Community College and Penn State Mont Alto squared off against each other for the second time in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Monday and the Muskies got their revenge topping PSU Mont Alto by a 12-2 score.

The Lions got off to a good start scoring the opening tally in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Colby Black opened the inning with a scorching double and later scored on a Tyler Martin fielder's choice. However, the PSU Mont Alto lead was short lived with New River CC responding with a six run second inning, four run fourth and the team added a pair in the fifth inning to build a 12-1 lead.

The Lions plated home a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Tyler Martin RBI double that scored Matt Taylor. Martin recorded two of the three hits for PSU Mont Alto and had both RBIs. The game ended in the fifth inning with the score being 12-2 due to the run-differential rule. The rule states that when the home team has a lead over its opponent of 10 or more runs, the game shall end.

Justin Duble (0-2) took the loss on the mound for the Lions as he allowed six runs on four hits and also walked five batters across 1.2 innings of work.

Game 3

SCORE: Penn State Mont Alto 6, Ancilla College 5 (F)

IN BRIEF: The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team concluded it's Spring Break trip on a high note when it defeated Ancilla College 6-5 on Monday. Spencer Meyers made his first start of the season on the mound and picked up the win, lifting the PSU Mont Alto record to 2-9 overall.

Meyers and Lowell Singer had the hot bats offensively for the Lions as each had a pair of hits while combing for three of the teams four RBIs. Penn State Mont Alto drew first blood with Matt Taylor and Spencer Meyers scoring in the top of the first inning. Ancilla made it 2-1 in the bottom half of the frame and tied it up in the bottom of the third when they plated home a run on passed ball by catcher Landon Richards. The Lions scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings and Ancilla College kept pace scoring a run in the sixth and added a pair in the bottom of the seventh.

The Lions lineup had nine hits and Meyers nearly had the complete game victory on the mound, but was relieved by Lowell Singer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and team clinging to the 6-5 lead. Singer came in out of the bullpen and slammed the door shut retiring the final batter of the game on a strikeout for his first save of the season.

Penn State Mont Alto returns to action on Monday, March 13 when Kent State Tuscarawas visits campus for the Lions home opener. The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader with first pitch from the Mont Alto Baseball Field slated for 2 p.m.