MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny baseball team picked up a 5-4 nonconference win against local foe Penn State Behrend Friday (April 21).
The Lions got on the board first in the second with a two-run home run in the second.
Ben Kosbie (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) led off the third with a single to center. After a
Jacob Budnar (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) sacrifice bunt and stolen base,
Tyson Bryant-Dawson (Oakland, Calif./Manvel (Texas)) drove Kosbie home on a sacrifice fly.
Jonathan Sharp (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) hit a lead-off double to deep left-center field in the fourth.
Chase Chodkowski (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) followed up with a single through the right side, bringing Sharp around from second to tie the game, 2-2.
Penn State would take the lead with a solo home run in the fifth, but the Gators answered in the bottom of the frame. Budnar earned a walk and was driven in once again by Bryant-Dawson, this time with a double to left field. Later in the inning, Bryant-Dawson put the Gators in front, 4-3, as he came across the plate on a balk.
The Gators added to their lead in the seventh. WIth Bryant-Dawson and Heckert on the base paths, Chodkowski once again singled through the right side, driving Bryant-Dawson home.
The Lions made up a run in the eighth, but were held off the scoreboard in the ninth as the Gators secured the win.
Bryant-Dawson, who hit two doubles, and Chodkowski led the Gators with three hits and two RBI each. Heckert had a hit and was intentionally walked twice. Kosbie, Sharp and
Ryan Dougherty (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) also tallied a hit apiece.
Garrett Senchur (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) earned the win in relief, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing zero hits while striking out one.
Preston Pierce (Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood) earned the save, his first of the year, working the final 3.0 innings and yielding just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out a pair.
The Gators are on the road Saturday (April 22) for a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) twinbill against Wooster. First pitch is scheduled for noon.