Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams went a combined 3-15 as they got their seasons underway last week in nonconference action at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Three of the softball team’s losses were by no more than two runs, as were two of the baseball team’s.
Baseball
On March 8, Penn College fell to Johnson and Wales University, 3-2, and Albertus Magnus, 8-1. In the first game, Evan Vigna, of McAdoo, was 2 for 3 with a triple and Darien Ebersole, of Pequea, was 2 for 4 at the plate. The Wildcats left the bases loaded to end the game. Andrew Bucher, of Manheim, had two of Penn College’s four hits in the second game.
In the first game of a doubleheader against Penn State Harrisburg on Monday, Penn College managed just two hits and dropped a 4-0 decision. In the second game, the Wildcats led 1-0 after the first inning and 4-3 after the third and 6-4 after the top of the fifth, but a five-run inning by Harrisburg in the bottom of the fifth turned the tide. Zach Weil, of Kutztown, finished 3 for 4 at the plate with four runs batted in for Penn College while Carlos Rodriguez, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, went 2 for 4 and James Simasek, of Landenberg, 2 for 3.
A pair of two-run homers from Cole Weachock, of Pottsville, in the eighth inning and Vigna in the ninth lifted the Wildcats to an 8-5 win over Albertus Magnus on Tuesday. Weachock finished the game 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, while Rodriguez, Weil, Simasek and Vigna each had two hits.
On Wednesday, in what may have been his team’s most impressive early-game showing that ended in a loss, the Wildcats built a 9-1 lead after five innings against Bridgewater College, ranked No. 18 among NCAA Division III colleges, only to give up seven runs in both the sixth and eighth innings of a 16-11 defeat. Earlier in the day, Penn College lost to Hood College, 10-7. In that game, Jeremy Rall, of Williamsport, went 3 for 4 while Weil and Weachock both finished with two hits and three RBI.
Penn College closed out its 1-7 Myrtle Beach experience on Thursday with a 7-5 loss to Washington College. Again, the Wildcats led early after Weil crushed a three-run home run in the first inning, but a six-run Washington fifth inning changed the outcome. Weil ended the game 2 for 2 and James Scully III, of Middletown, Delaware, was 2 for 3, including a double.
“It was great to get outside, get on a field and actually start playing. … But our record doesn’t really indicate a lot of the good things we did,” coach Chris Howard said. “Obviously, we still have a lot of things we need to work on. At times during all eight games, we saw little flashes of how good we could be; we just need to put it together. We know what we have to do to get better and, from here on out, we have to work on those things.
“We found out that we have a lot of really talented freshmen pitchers and position players and a lot of our upperclassmen had a pretty good week, as well,” Howard continued. “It was disappointing record-wise, but there were enough good things and positive things to still be excited about the rest of the season. It’s not how you start it out, it’s how you finish it, and that’s what we’re going forward with now.”
The Wildcats’ next game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at Bowman Field against Wilkes University.
Softball
In their March 8 season opener, the Wildcats dropped games to Penn State Harrisburg, 9-5, and Bridgewater College, 3-1. Against Harrisburg, Karey Wolfe, of Milton, went 3 for 4 at the plate and Shelby Lyter, of Allenysville, went 2 for 3. Breanna Abbey, of Carlisle, went 2 for 4 in the second game.
On Monday against Iowa Wesleyan, Penn College pounded out 11 hits – including two each from Sarah Schick, of Williamsport; Jessica Gmerek, of Bellefonte; and Katie Kratzer, of Lynch Station, Virginia – but it wasn’t enough in a 13-7 loss. In the day’s second game, against Dickinson College, the Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead and Lyter pitched no-hit ball through five innings, but Dickinson rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Penn College split on Tuesday, falling 3-2 in eight innings to Mount Aloysius College and gaining its first win of the season, 8-2, against Delaware Valley College. In the opener, Nicole Lo Furno, of Glen Mills, was 2 for 3 at the plate and Lyter went the distance on the mound with four strikeouts and one walk. Against Delaware Valley, a four-run first inning, sparked by Macie Lucas’ two-run double, provided the offense and Arika Stopper, of Williamsport, went the distance for the mound win. Lucas, of Reedsville, finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
On Thursday in a 10-2 win over SUNY IT, Stopper pitched 5-hit ball and the Wildcats got their offensive spark from Abbey, who went 3 for 4 at the plate, including a single, double and triple; Lucas, who was 2 for 2; and Lyter and Alexandra Brennan, of St. Clair, who both were 2 for 3. Penn College lost its second game, 9-3 to MacMurray College. Abbey and Brennan both went 2 for 3.
Penn College closed out its 2-8 week and trip on Friday with losses to St. Joseph’s College of Long Island, 10-7, and was no-hit in a 13-0, three-inning loss to William Peace University.
“We got the opportunity to give everybody a chance to show us what they had and we are able to come home with a couple of different scenarios for lineups depending on who is pitching,” coach Roger Harris said.
“A swing of the bat here, a caught ball there or one less error and we win the game,” Harris continued of the closely played contests. “We accomplished a lot.”
During the course of the week, several players suffered a variety of injuries, but the coach thinks everybody should be ready by Thursday’s scheduled 3 p.m. doubleheader against Lycoming College at Elm Park.
“We’re very confident about our starting nine. … As long as the girls are healthy and the lineup stays, we have a lot of power, a lot of speed. A lot of these girls did some great things down here,” Harris added.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES
Baseball
Overall record: 1-7
NEAC record: 0-0
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Johnson and Wales University at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-2
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Albertus Magnus College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 8-1
Monday, March 9 – vs. Penn State Harrisburg (2) at Myrtle Beach, L, 4-0; L, 9-6
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Albertus Magnus College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 8-5
Wednesday, March 11 – vs. Hood College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 10-7
Wednesday, March 11 – vs. Bridgewater College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 16-11
Thursday, March 12 – vs. Washington (Md.) College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 7-5
Wednesday, March 18 – vs. Wilkes University at Bowman Field, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 – vs. Elmira College at Bowman Field (2), 1 and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 – vs. Alfred State at Bowman Field (2), 2 and 4 p.m.
Softball
Overall record: 2-8
NEAC record: 0-0
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Penn State Harrisburg at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 9-5
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Bridgewater College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-1
Monday, March 9 – vs. Iowa Wesleyan College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 13-7
Monday, March 9 – vs. Dickinson College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 2-1
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Mount Aloysius College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-2, 8 innings
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Delaware Valley College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 8-2
Thursday, March 12 – vs. SUNYIT at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 10-2
Thursday, March 12 – vs. MacMurray College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 9-3
Friday, March 13 – vs. St. Joseph’s College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 10-7
Friday, March 13 vs. William Peace University at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 13-0, 3 innings
Thursday, March 19 – vs. Lycoming College at Elm Park (2), 3 and 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 – vs. Elmira College at Elm Park (2), noon and 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 – at Misericordia University (2), 1 and 3 p.m.
Baseball
On March 8, Penn College fell to Johnson and Wales University, 3-2, and Albertus Magnus, 8-1. In the first game, Evan Vigna, of McAdoo, was 2 for 3 with a triple and Darien Ebersole, of Pequea, was 2 for 4 at the plate. The Wildcats left the bases loaded to end the game. Andrew Bucher, of Manheim, had two of Penn College’s four hits in the second game.
In the first game of a doubleheader against Penn State Harrisburg on Monday, Penn College managed just two hits and dropped a 4-0 decision. In the second game, the Wildcats led 1-0 after the first inning and 4-3 after the third and 6-4 after the top of the fifth, but a five-run inning by Harrisburg in the bottom of the fifth turned the tide. Zach Weil, of Kutztown, finished 3 for 4 at the plate with four runs batted in for Penn College while Carlos Rodriguez, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, went 2 for 4 and James Simasek, of Landenberg, 2 for 3.
A pair of two-run homers from Cole Weachock, of Pottsville, in the eighth inning and Vigna in the ninth lifted the Wildcats to an 8-5 win over Albertus Magnus on Tuesday. Weachock finished the game 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, while Rodriguez, Weil, Simasek and Vigna each had two hits.
On Wednesday, in what may have been his team’s most impressive early-game showing that ended in a loss, the Wildcats built a 9-1 lead after five innings against Bridgewater College, ranked No. 18 among NCAA Division III colleges, only to give up seven runs in both the sixth and eighth innings of a 16-11 defeat. Earlier in the day, Penn College lost to Hood College, 10-7. In that game, Jeremy Rall, of Williamsport, went 3 for 4 while Weil and Weachock both finished with two hits and three RBI.
Penn College closed out its 1-7 Myrtle Beach experience on Thursday with a 7-5 loss to Washington College. Again, the Wildcats led early after Weil crushed a three-run home run in the first inning, but a six-run Washington fifth inning changed the outcome. Weil ended the game 2 for 2 and James Scully III, of Middletown, Delaware, was 2 for 3, including a double.
“It was great to get outside, get on a field and actually start playing. … But our record doesn’t really indicate a lot of the good things we did,” coach Chris Howard said. “Obviously, we still have a lot of things we need to work on. At times during all eight games, we saw little flashes of how good we could be; we just need to put it together. We know what we have to do to get better and, from here on out, we have to work on those things.
“We found out that we have a lot of really talented freshmen pitchers and position players and a lot of our upperclassmen had a pretty good week, as well,” Howard continued. “It was disappointing record-wise, but there were enough good things and positive things to still be excited about the rest of the season. It’s not how you start it out, it’s how you finish it, and that’s what we’re going forward with now.”
The Wildcats’ next game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at Bowman Field against Wilkes University.
Softball
In their March 8 season opener, the Wildcats dropped games to Penn State Harrisburg, 9-5, and Bridgewater College, 3-1. Against Harrisburg, Karey Wolfe, of Milton, went 3 for 4 at the plate and Shelby Lyter, of Allenysville, went 2 for 3. Breanna Abbey, of Carlisle, went 2 for 4 in the second game.
On Monday against Iowa Wesleyan, Penn College pounded out 11 hits – including two each from Sarah Schick, of Williamsport; Jessica Gmerek, of Bellefonte; and Katie Kratzer, of Lynch Station, Virginia – but it wasn’t enough in a 13-7 loss. In the day’s second game, against Dickinson College, the Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead and Lyter pitched no-hit ball through five innings, but Dickinson rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Penn College split on Tuesday, falling 3-2 in eight innings to Mount Aloysius College and gaining its first win of the season, 8-2, against Delaware Valley College. In the opener, Nicole Lo Furno, of Glen Mills, was 2 for 3 at the plate and Lyter went the distance on the mound with four strikeouts and one walk. Against Delaware Valley, a four-run first inning, sparked by Macie Lucas’ two-run double, provided the offense and Arika Stopper, of Williamsport, went the distance for the mound win. Lucas, of Reedsville, finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
On Thursday in a 10-2 win over SUNY IT, Stopper pitched 5-hit ball and the Wildcats got their offensive spark from Abbey, who went 3 for 4 at the plate, including a single, double and triple; Lucas, who was 2 for 2; and Lyter and Alexandra Brennan, of St. Clair, who both were 2 for 3. Penn College lost its second game, 9-3 to MacMurray College. Abbey and Brennan both went 2 for 3.
Penn College closed out its 2-8 week and trip on Friday with losses to St. Joseph’s College of Long Island, 10-7, and was no-hit in a 13-0, three-inning loss to William Peace University.
“We got the opportunity to give everybody a chance to show us what they had and we are able to come home with a couple of different scenarios for lineups depending on who is pitching,” coach Roger Harris said.
“A swing of the bat here, a caught ball there or one less error and we win the game,” Harris continued of the closely played contests. “We accomplished a lot.”
During the course of the week, several players suffered a variety of injuries, but the coach thinks everybody should be ready by Thursday’s scheduled 3 p.m. doubleheader against Lycoming College at Elm Park.
“We’re very confident about our starting nine. … As long as the girls are healthy and the lineup stays, we have a lot of power, a lot of speed. A lot of these girls did some great things down here,” Harris added.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES
Baseball
Overall record: 1-7
NEAC record: 0-0
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Johnson and Wales University at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-2
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Albertus Magnus College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 8-1
Monday, March 9 – vs. Penn State Harrisburg (2) at Myrtle Beach, L, 4-0; L, 9-6
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Albertus Magnus College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 8-5
Wednesday, March 11 – vs. Hood College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 10-7
Wednesday, March 11 – vs. Bridgewater College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 16-11
Thursday, March 12 – vs. Washington (Md.) College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 7-5
Wednesday, March 18 – vs. Wilkes University at Bowman Field, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 – vs. Elmira College at Bowman Field (2), 1 and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 – vs. Alfred State at Bowman Field (2), 2 and 4 p.m.
Softball
Overall record: 2-8
NEAC record: 0-0
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Penn State Harrisburg at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 9-5
Sunday, March 8 – vs. Bridgewater College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-1
Monday, March 9 – vs. Iowa Wesleyan College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 13-7
Monday, March 9 – vs. Dickinson College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 2-1
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Mount Aloysius College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 3-2, 8 innings
Tuesday, March 10 – vs. Delaware Valley College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 8-2
Thursday, March 12 – vs. SUNYIT at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 10-2
Thursday, March 12 – vs. MacMurray College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 9-3
Friday, March 13 – vs. St. Joseph’s College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 10-7
Friday, March 13 vs. William Peace University at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 13-0, 3 innings
Thursday, March 19 – vs. Lycoming College at Elm Park (2), 3 and 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 – vs. Elmira College at Elm Park (2), noon and 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 – at Misericordia University (2), 1 and 3 p.m.
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