Wildcats Set to Step Into Conference Baseball, Softball Action

Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams went 1-2 against NCAA Division III teams last week as they prepare for the start of Penn State University Athletic Conference action.

Baseball The Wildcats scored their second win over a Division III team in two weeks when they edged Wilkes University, 7-6, on Tuesday. With the game tied at six-all in the top of the ninth, Zachary Buterbaugh, of Conestoga, laced a double that drove in what proved to be the game-winning run. Jared Johnson, of Wyalusing, finished 2 for 4 at the plate with two runs batted in, and Travis Hendershot, of Muncy, was 3 for 5 including a triple as the team improved to 6-4 overall. Penn College totaled 14 hits, five of them for extra bases.

Saturday's home games against Baptist Bible College were postponed due to inclement weather.

Penn College begins its Penn State University Athletic Conference play Thursday at Penn State Mont Alto.

"We're playing pretty well. The guys are working hard. The pitchers are doing a nice job. For the most part, I like the progress we are making," coach Chris Howard said. "Defensively, I have no problems with that whatsoever, and we've been hitting the ball and doing things offensively that I thought we needed to improve on from last year.

"It's important for us to get out to a quick start (in the conference) this year. The last couple of years, we've played catchup because we started out slow. We need to get some wins early so that pressure toward the end isn't as intense as it was the last couple of years," the coach continued.

"The idea (in the first dozen games) was to hit the ground running and get all of the kinks worked out and head into conference play playing well," Howard added.

So far, so good.

Softball Stepping up against Alfred, N.Y., University on Friday, Penn College dropped a doubleheader by scores of 10-0 in six innings and 27-0 in five innings and fell to 1-9 on the season. Alfred showed its strength in the second game as it had 22 hits, took advantage of 10 Wildcat errors and got a no-hit pitching effort from Samantha Muller.

Saturday's games at Elmira, N.Y., College were postponed.

Penn College starts PSUAC play Thursday at Penn State Mont Alto.

"We've been struggling with some issues, some of them being injuries, and dealing with a brand-new squad with only a couple of returnees from last year," coach Roger Harris said. "As we head into league play, I'm still very hopeful that we're going to turn it around."

Schedule/Results/Records ArcherySaturday-Sunday, April 14-15 New England Collegiate Tournament at Storrs, Conn., noon

Baseball Overall record: 6-4Tuesday, March 20 at Wilkes University, W, 7-6 Saturday, March 24 host Baptist Bible at Bowman Field, postponed Sunday, March 25 at Lehigh Carbon (2), canceled Tuesday, March 27 host King's College at Bowman Field, 4 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at Penn State Mont Alto (2), 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31 host Penn State Fayette at Bowman Field (2), 1 p.m. Sunday, April 1 host Penn State Beaver at Bowman Field (2), 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 at Penn State York (2), 2 p.m.

Softball Overall record: 1-9 Friday, March 23 host Alfred, N.Y., University at Elm Park, L, 10-0 in 6 innings; L, 27-0 in 5 innings Saturday, March 24 at Elmira, N.Y., College (2), postponed Thursday, March 29 at Penn State Mont Alto (2), 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31 host Penn State Fayette at Elm Park (2), 1 p.m. Sunday, April 1 host Penn State Beaver at Elm Park (2), noon Tuesday, April 3 host Penn State Schuylkill at Elm Park (2), 2 p.m.

Vol. 10, No. 32