By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team hosted PSU DuBois for a nine-inning affair on Tuesday with PSUMA prevailing by 10-6 score to improve to a PSUAC-best 20-2 and 18-2 within conference.
The Nittany Lions once again came out swinging and in the bottom of the first inning Chance McClure (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) smacked a two-run homer over the left field fence for his 100th career hit. The score remained 2-0 until Mont Alto once again scored utilizing the top of its lineup. Jared Pine (Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan) singled to begin the inning, advanced to third after a fielder's choice and scored when he stole home.
Matt Huston (McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg) twirled a fantastic game lasting four innings, while only allowing one visitor hit. Zach Garlin (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) entered in his relief in the fifth inning and he was dominant until becoming wild within the seventh frame. A key defensive play was turned in by Tyler Moreland (Spring Mills, W.Va. / Spring Mills) who snagged a line drive at third base and fired across the diamond for the double play in the top of the sixth inning.
Garlin gave up a double before allowing back-to-back walks to load the bases up where he then hit a batter. Fellow Big Spring alum, Luke Michaels (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) pitched out of trouble but DuBois was able to tie it up 6-6 thanks to five runs on three hits within the seventh inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, Mont Alto once again showed how resilient they are by responding with two runs. With runners on second and third with two outs, Jonathon Lentvorsky (Shermans Dale, Pa. / West Perry) sliced a two-RBI single off Brandon Osrich that made it 8-6. Mont Alto handed Brandon Osrich his first career loss as PSUMA will surely see him once again in the PSUAC Tournament, which is slated for the first week of May.
Chance McClure (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) collected another RBI in the bottom of the eighth singling to center field in which scored Pine. McClure finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs and also pitched an inning of relief.
The Nittany Lions return to action on Friday with another nine-inning contest, this time on the road against Penn State Greater Allegheny. Game time is slated for 4 p.m.
