Frostproof, FL – Penn State Altoona used a three run seventh inning rally to sweep the SUNY Canton baseball team with a walk-off win in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Friday. The Lions (5-5) defeated the Roos 9-2 in Game 1 and 3-2 in the second contest of the twinbill.
Game 1
Altoona scored three runs in the second and third innings to open up an early advantage in the opening game. The Lions would break open the game with a three run fifth inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the frame.
The Roos (3-6) scored their first run of the game when Brandon Welch (Constable, NY) used an RBI single to plate Christian Nazario-Cruz. (Naguabo, Puerto Rico).
Penn State Altoona added three more runs in the top of the sixth and looking to rally in the bottom of the inning SUNY Canton was able to just get one runner across as Nazario-Cruz singled to right center to plate Matt Hall (Palmyra, NY).
Zach Lawrence (West Palm Beach, FL) got the start on the mound throwing six innings giving up eight earned runs. He struck out five batters and walked one. Dan Coant (Fulton, NY) threw one inning in relief surrendering just one hit.
Game 2
The Roos (3-7) did their scoring early in the second game against the Lions scoring one run each in the second and third innings. Seth Douglas led off the second with a solo shot to dead center field, the first SUNY Canton long ball of the season. Nazario-Cruz would turn a leadoff infield single in the third into a run as he scored with two down in the frame on an error by the catcher.
Penn State Altoona trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh but rallied for the walk-off win. Pat McHenry led off with a homer to left. With one out Jim Shomberg used a base hit to center to put the tying run on base. Josh DeGol pinch-hit and singled to left field advancing to second on the throw.
The Roos intentionally walked Dan Dwyer to load the bases looking for the double play. Unfortunately Jarrett Fulmer followed by drawing a walk bringing the tying run across the plate. Jack Cleary provided the late-game heroics for the Lions singling up the middle to score Olson for the victory.
Derek Harkin (Ottawa, ON) picked up his second loss of the season despite giving up just three runs in six and one-third innings. He struck out three and walked three. Mike Marley earned his second victory of the season for Altoona.
The baseball team will continue its spring break trip on Saturday when it plays a single nine inning game against Stockton University at 10 a.m. in Lakeland, FL. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the SUNY Canton Athletics department by "liking" us on Facebook and "following" our Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
About SUNY Canton
SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses, as well as 10 exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA.