Lions Close Weekend Series With Split At York

YORK, Pa. – Penn State York claimed a 5-4, nine-inning victory in game one, but Penn State Brandywine recorded a 9-3 triumph in game two, earning a Saturday split and its third victory during the four-game PSUAC baseball series.

Game One: Penn State York 5, Penn State Brandywine 4 (9 innings)

Brandywine fell behind 3-0 before getting two runs closer in the fifth inning. Julian Clark (Somerdale, N.J./Sterling) and Dalton Palmer (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) recorded back-to-back base hits to put a pair of Lions on base. Clark came around to score on a groundout, while Palmer crossed home via Tyler Brooks' (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) two-out double.

Two innings later, Brooks singled and scored on Evan Abegg's (Commerce City, Colo./Prairie View) base hit to knot the score at 4-4 and send the game to extra innings.

York put its first two batters on base in the ninth inning and two batters later, a fielder's choice allowed the game-winning run to score.

Brooks went 4-for-4, including a pair of doubles, while Clark was 3-for-3 and stole a base to lead the Brandywine offense.

Michael Paytas (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) went the first 3.2 innings on the mound, striking out four and allowing three earned runs, while Ben Mutz (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) pitched the final 5.0 innings, fanning seven.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 9, Penn State York 3

Brooks had another big game at the plate in game two, leading the Lions' 12-hit attack with three more knocks, including his first home run. He drove in three runs overall, as did Hayden Altimari (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Anthony's), while Brian Reynolds added three hits.

The Lions took control early, scoring six times on five hits in the third inning. Altimari knocked in two runs with a double and scored with Abegg on Brooks' base hit. Brooks crossed home on Clark's groundout and Nick Wright (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) added a sixth run, scoring on a York error.

Brooks drove a solo home run over the left field wall in the fourth, while Altimari's run-scoring double in the sixth capped the scoring for the visitors.

Cam Baughman (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) earned the victory in relief, firing 3.2 scoreless innings. He struck out one and yielded only two hits.

Brandywine (5-1, 3-1 PSUAC) hosts Penn State Schuylkill Tuesday for Senior Night beginning at 6:00 pm.