Penn College Downs Pioneers in Two Tight Contests

Alfred State fell in two tight contests to Penn College. The Wildcats defeated the Pioneers 3-0 in the opener and 13-10 in eight innings in the nightcap. 

Ryan Hedges (Arkport) took the ball in game one and gave the Pioneers a strong 6 2/3 innings. Hedges allowed two earned runs, scattered eight hits, and walked two.

Neither team was able to generate any runs until the Wildcats put up two runs in the top of the 5th inning. The Wildcats scored their third and final run in the the top of the 7th to close out the scoring for game one. 

David Zuber (Lima) who singled up the middle in the 5th accounted for the lone hit off of Wildcat starter Tyler Cookli.

The nightcap was another back and fourth affair for the Pioneers.  The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jose Martinez (Queens) singled to left scoring Nicholas Padley (Sweet Home) and Chris Borden (Glenville)

Penn College answered back with a run in the top of the 2nd inning. Noah Esposit singled to score Darien Ebers.

The Pioneers took a 3-1 advatage in the bottom of the 3rd after Ryan Hierlwimmer (Livonia) hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Borden. 

The Wildcats were able to knot the game at 3-3 in the top of the 4th inning. Devin Masser hit a single to right scoring Darien Ebers and then Noah Esposit hit an RBI single scoring Masser. 

The Pioneers regained the lead in the top of the 5th scoring one run coming of the bat of Padley, scoring Jordan Wheaton (Wayland).

Both teams put up four runs in the 6th inning. The Pioneers generated runs from being patient at the plate and taking advantage of wild pitches in the inning. Cullen Franz (Cazenovia), Robert Cardona (Harlem), Chris Borden, and Michael English (Livonia) each crossed the plate for the Pioneers in the bottom half of the 6th inning. 

The Wildcats took the lead in the top of the 7th inning, but the Pioneers came right back plating the game tying run in the bottom half of the 7th. 

Penn College was able to capitalize on some late game walks in the top half of the 8th inning to score four runs and secure the victory in game two.

The Pioneers rally in the bottom of the 8th came up short as they were only able to push across one run scored by Wheaton on a passed ball. 

Padley led the offense with a 2 for 4, 3 RBI day while Franz was 2 for 5.

The Pioneers will be back in action this Friday, April 3rd when they take on Penn St.-Greater Alleghany; first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.