With the final week of the regular season looming, crunch time has arrived and United East Conference playoffs are on the line for Pennsylvania College of Technology athletes in six spring sports.
The women’s tennis team opens the postseason with a play-in match on Tuesday at Penn State Abington, the men’s tennis team goes into first-round action on Saturday, and the men’s golf team seeks its third consecutive championship on Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, the men’s baseball, women’s softball and men’s lacrosse teams continue to battle for postseason positions, with 10 of 14 baseball and 10 of 15 softball teams qualifying for playoffs that begin April 29 and 30, respectively, along with four of the conference’s five men’s lacrosse teams, which start play on April 30.
Next month, Penn College archers will compete in the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals at East Lansing, Michigan.
Baseball
At Penn State Altoona on Monday, the Wildcats split, losing 12-7 and winning 11-2. In the first game, Altoona broke on top 8-0 before Penn College came back with a five-run fifth inning. Matt Munoz of Tobyhanna went 3 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the offense. In the second game, the Wildcats scored in each of the first six innings, led by Anthony Turek of Lancaster, who went 3 for 5, including a double, two-run home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Weston McClain of Port Matilda, the third of six pitchers, got the mound win.
In UE play on Wednesday hosting St. Elizabeth, Penn College won 8-3 as Munoz was 2 for 4, including a triple, with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the offense, and Wyatt Hershey of McConnellsburg got the pitching win in relief of Mason Balfanz of Elmhurst, Illinois.
On Thursday at new foe Immaculata, the Wildcats gave up 12 first-inning runs and lost 22-11 in seven. Adam Cornelius of Wadsworth, Ohio, led the Penn College offense with a seventh-inning grand-slam home run. Starting pitcher Turek took the mound loss.
Hosting Penn State Brandywine on Saturday in the UE, Penn College fell behind 9-0 early, then scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a come-from-behind 19-18 win, its first ever over Brandywine after three losses. In a game that saw 40 total hits — 22 by the Wildcats — Munoz went 3 for 6, including a three-run home run, with four RBIs, and Levi Purnell of Snow Shoe had two homers and also plated four runs. Sam Staib of Bloomsburg, the team’s sixth pitcher, got the win.
UE standings through Sunday: Keystone College 12-1, Penn State Harrisburg 10-3, Penn College 9-3, St. Mary’s (Md.) College 9-4, Cairn University 8-4, Penn State Abington 8-5, Lancaster Bible College 7-6, St. Elizabeth University 6-7, Penn State Berks 5-7, Rosemont College 4-7, Wilson College 4-9, Valley Forge 3-10, Notre Dame (Md.) University 2-11, Penn State Brandywine 1-11. (Top 10 advance).
Schedule/Record/Series History
Overall: 16-14
UE: 9-3
(Home games at Bowman Field)
Monday, April 14 — at Penn State Altoona (2), L, 12-7; W, 11-2
Wednesday, April 16 — host St. Elizabeth University (UE), W, 8-3
Thursday, April 17 — at Immaculata, L, 22-11
Saturday, April 19 — host Penn State Brandywine (UE, 2), W, 19-18; second game ppd., rain
Monday, April 21 — host Penn State Brandywine (UE), 4 p.m. (Brandywine leads 3-1)
Tuesday, April 22 — at Pitt-Bradford (2), 1 p.m. (PC leads 3-1)
Wednesday, April 23 — at St. Elizabeth (UE), 3 p.m. (PC leads 2-1)
Saturday, April 26 — at Notre Dame (Md.) University (UE, 2), noon (first-time foe)
Tuesday, April 29-Sunday, May 11 — United East playoffs, TBA
Softball
Hosting Lancaster Bible College in UE play on Monday, Penn College continued its series dominance with a 7-2 and 9-1 sweep and improving to 17-1 against the Chargers. In the first game, Mackenzie Weaver of Montoursville tossed a four-hitter, striking out 11, and went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. In the second game, the Wildcats batted around in a seven-run first inning and went on to win in five. Mackenzi Tice of Mansfield threw a four-hitter and fanned 11, including the 100th of her freshman career.
At Keystone College on Wednesday in the UE, the Wildcats took both games in five innings by scores of 14-2 and 20-0. In the opener, Madison Herriman of Danville went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Weaver won her 14th game with a six-strikeout effort in the circle. In the nightcap, Tice threw a two-hit shutout for her ninth “W” and was backed by Colleen Cole of Clarks Green, who was 4 for 4 at the plate with five RBIs; Weaver, who was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and four runs scored; Lexi Snyder of Hegins, who was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored; and Astyn Calaman of Elizabethtown, who was 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a 20-hit attack.
UE standings through Sunday: Penn State Berks 12-0, Penn State Brandywine 11-1, Penn State Harrisburg 11-2, Penn College 9-3, Cedar Crest College 9-4, St. Elizabeth University 8-4, Notre Dame (Md.) University 8-5, Wilson College 7-5, Penn State Abington 7-7, Rosemont College 5-7, Keystone College 3-8, Lancaster Bible College 1-10, Cairn University 0-11, Valley Forge 0-12, Gallaudet University 0-12. (Top 10 advance).
Schedule/Record/Series History
Overall: 23-10
UE: 9-3
(Home games at Elm Park)
Monday, April 14 — host Lancaster Bible College (UE, 2), W, 7-2; W, 9-1 in 5 innings
Wednesday, April 16 — at Keystone College (UE, 2), W, 14-2 in 5 innings; W, 20-0 in 5 innings
Tuesday, April 22 — host Penn State Harrisburg (UE, 2), 3 p.m. (PC leads 16-6)
Saturday, April 26 — at Penn State Berks (UE, 2), 1 p.m. (Berks leads 17-11)
Wednesday, April 30-Sunday, May 11 — United East Conference playoffs, TBA
Men’s Lacrosse
After losses in each of the last three seasons against Westminster College, Penn College broke through on the road on Wednesday as Owen Kupsey of Chadds Ford scored his fourth goal of the match with 32 seconds to lift the Wildcats to a 10-9 victory. Goalkeeper Ryan Twist of Great Meadows, New Jersey, made 13 saves. The team’s 11th win matched its previous program season high set in 2023.
At Cairn University in the UE on Saturday, Penn College used a 12-goal first period en route to a 26-2 victory that upped the team’s overall record to 12-4 — marking the first 12-win season in program history — and nailed down a playoff spot. Kupsey led the offense with five goals, Elliot Dotson of Wilmington, Delaware, recorded a hat trick and added four assists, and AJ Dotson of Wilmington, Delaware, had three goals and one assist. Twist started in goal and made one save to get the win.
UE standings through Sunday: St. Mary’s (Md.) College 3-0, Penn College 2-1, Rosemont 2-1, Bryn Athyn 1-2, Cairn University 0-4. (Top four advance).
Schedule/Record/Series History
Overall: 12-4
UE: 2-1
Wednesday, April 16 — at Westminster, W, 10-9
Saturday, April 19 — at Cairn University (UE), W, 26-2
Saturday, April 26 — host Bryn Athyn (UE), 1 p.m. (PC leads 2-0)
Wednesday, April 30-Saturday, May 3 — United East Conference playoffs, TBA
Men’s Golf
In the final competitive tune-up before the conference championships, the squad finished fourth with a 614 in a 10-team field Friday and Saturday at the Gettysburg Spring Shootout. Individually, Peyton Mussina of Montoursville placed seventh among 54 players with rounds of 73-73—146.
Host Gettysburg captured the team crown with a 297-295—592. Individually, Colin McMahon-Shea of Dickinson medaled with a 66-74—140.
Schedule
Friday-Saturday, April 18-19 — Gettysburg Spring Shootout at Penn National Course, 4 of 10
Friday-Saturday, April 25-26 — UE Championship at Chambersburg Country Club, TBA
Men’s Tennis
In the UE at Cairn University on Wednesday, Penn College won 6-1. Winning in both singles and doubles were John Finnegan of Hughesville at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, Alex Norris of Williamsport at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles, Logan Ogden of South Williamsport at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles, and Seth Priestman of Bloomsburg at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles.
Hosting Lancaster Bible College in UE play on Saturday, the Wildcats won 6-1 and, in doing so, locked up a postseason playoff spot. Singles winners were Kyle Shuler of Williamsport at No. 1; Norris at No. 2; Ogden at No. 4; Priestman at No. 5; and Matt Williams of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, at No. 6. Doubles winners were Norris-Finnegan at No. 1, and Will Long of Virginia Beach, Virginia-Hunter Knosky of Camp Hill at No. 3.
UE standings through Sunday: Penn State Harrisburg 7-0, St. Mary’s (Md.) College 5-1, Penn State Abington 5-2, Penn State Berks 4-3, Penn College 3-3, Lancaster Bible College 2-5, Cairn University 1-6, Penn State Brandywine 0-7. (Top six advance).
Schedule/Record/Series Record
Overall: 4-8
UE: 3-3
(Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center)
Wednesday, April 16 — at Cairn University (UE), W, 6-1
Saturday, April 19 — host Lancaster Bible College (UE), W, 6-1
Monday, April 21 — at St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UE), 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 — United East Conference playoffs, TBA
Women’s Tennis
In a 5-2 UE loss at Cairn University on Wednesday, the lone double winner was Lauren Peck of South Williamsport at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles. Singles winners were Ellen Buckley of Binghamton, New York, at No. 1 and Peck at No. 2, with the same two teaming for a win at No. 1 doubles.
With a postseason berth on the line Saturday at home against Lancaster Bible College, the Wildcats lost 6-0 but still made the playoffs by virtue of the fourth tiebreaker criteria, must individual matches won. Saturday’s lone win came at No. 1 doubles, where Buckley-Faith Murray of Dillsburg triumphed.
When the Wildcats, seeded eighth, and Penn State Abington, seeded fifth, met earlier this month, Abington won 6-1, with Murray picking up the lone win at No. 2 singles.
Coach David Straub is hopeful of a play-in lineup for Tuesday’s match that will include in singles, Buckley at No. 1, Peck at No. 2, Murray at No. 3, Kayla Weinzierl of Summer Hill at No. 4, Cierra Miller of Dover at No. 5, Eliza Welshans of Jersey Shore at No. 6, and in doubles, Buckley-Murray at No. 1, Peck-Weinzierl at No. 2, and Miller-Welshans at No. 3.
“If we have everybody we need, all six, we should be competitive,” Straub said.
UE standings through Sunday: St. Mary’s (Md.) College 8-0, Penn State Harrisburg 7-1, Cairn University 6-2, Lancaster Bible College 6-2, Penn State Abington 5-3, Notre Dame (Md.) University 3-5, Penn State Berks 3-5, Penn College 2-6, Cedar Crest College 2-6, Penn State Brandywine 1-7, Bryn Athyn 1-7. (Top eight advance).
Schedule/Record/Series Record
Overall: 2-13
UE: 2-6
(Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center)
Wednesday, April 16 — at Cairn University (UE), L, 5-2
Friday, April 18 — at Notre Dame (Md.) University (UE), L, 5-2
Saturday, April 19 — host Lancaster Bible College (UE), L, 6-0
Tuesday, April 22 — United East Conference play-in at Penn State Abington (Abington leads 9-1), TBA
Friday, April 25 — host Penn State Altoona, 4 p.m. (Altoona leads 2-0)
Archery
Schedule
Friday-Sunday, April 25-27 — Eastern Region Outdoor Championships at Harrisonburg, Va.
Friday-Sunday, May 16-18 — USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals at East Lansing, Mich.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website .
For more about the United East, visit the conference website .