By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
Monaca, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a thriller in 11-innings by a 9-6 score. The Lions advance to the second round of the PSUAC Tournament where they are slated to play Penn State Brandywine on Sunday, May 7.
Both teams were held scoreless until the fifth inning when Penn State Beaver broke through for three runs in the bottom of the frame. Beaver managed three hits within the inning and were aided by a Mont Alto fielding error. The 3-0 lead was short lived as Mont Alto exploded for four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Tyler Martin got the inning started with a double and scored on a Jeremiah Younker hit that was mishandled by PSU Beaver. Brady Topper followed it up with an RBI double and Joel Clabaugh drove in Brandt Swartz who pitch ran for Clabaugh to tie it up at three runs apiece. Clabaugh would score two batters later when Beaver starter Nick Casasanta balked to give Mont Alto the 4-3 lead. Penn State Beaver retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs on three hits including an RBI single off the bat of Blaise McCarty.
Penn State Mont Alto (12-22-1, 6-6 PSUAC) sensing the season was on the line put up a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Leadoff hitter Colby Black singled to begin the inning and scored on a Tyler Martin single. Martin came around to score on a Jeremiah Younker double to put the Lions up 6-5. In the bottom half of the inning, Scott Hughes forced extra innings after managing an RBI single off of relief pitcher Jeremiah Younker.
Both teams were held scoreless until the 11th inning when Mont Alto put up three runs. Matt Taylor produced an RBI single and Jeremiah Younker crushed a two-run homer, which put up Mont Alto up for good.
Mont Alto starter Lowell Singer went six innings and struck out three batters. Younker was outstanding in relief scattering five hits across five innings of work to earn the win on the mound.
The Lions travel to Scranton, Pa. to compete in the rest of the PSUAC Tournament, which will be a double elimination format. Game time against PSU Brandywine is slated for 10 a.m.
