KSU Tusc got a much-needed win on the diamond Sunday afternoon at Penn State Shenango, snapping an eight-game losing streak by taking the first game of a doubleheader 7-6 but losing in a closely contested finale 3-2.
The Golden Eagles broke on top in the first inning 3-0 when Braydon Maine tripled into left field after the Eagles loaded the bases via a walk and two players were hit by pitch.
In the bottom of the inning the Lions rapped out two singles and a double to close the score to 3-2. After the navy and gold stranded two runners after lead-off singles in the second, the hosts plated three more runs to take a 5-2 advantage after a homer, a single, three walks and two KSU Tusc errors.
Nonetheless, the Eagles tied the game in the third (5-5) without a single hit as they stole some momentum back. Caleb Campbell was hit by pitch and Steve Michniak drew a walk with both runners stealing second and third and coming home on an error by the Lions third baseman.
Shenango responded with a run in the bottom of the stanza to take a 6-5 lead, but in the top of the fourth KSU Tusc scored twice to snatch the lead back (7-6) with just one out but they left the bases loaded. It was the last of the scoring in the first game even though both teams threatened.
With one out in the visitor's half of the sixth, the Eagles loaded the bases again but were retired on a strikeout and groundout. In the bottom half of the frame, the Lions had runners on first and third with one out and tried to squeeze a runner home. The bunt was fielded by KSU pitcher Scottie Sauernheimer whose toss to catcher Caleb Salgado was in time to cut the runner down at the plate. A strikeout ended the inning with two Shenango runners left on base.
The Lions lead off runner drew a free pass to start the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, another walk and a Tusc error loaded the bases. A sharp grounder hit to shortstop allowed Campbell to force the runner from third out at home to end the game.
Maine led the Eagles going 2-3 at the plate with a triple and four RBIs, Salgado was 2-3 with a double and run scored and Josh Leonard also hit two singles in three trips.
The Eagles stole 11 bases in the game and left 12 runners on base to move their record to 5-10 while dropping the Lions to 12-6.
Despite outhitting the Lions in the second game, the Golden Eagles fell 3-2 in seven innings as Brogan Burcher pounded triple and collected two hits, Maine had two singles and Campbell a double.
After the Lions posted a single run in the home half of the first inning, KSU came alive with two tallies in the top of the fourth to take a short-lived 2-1 lead. An Andrew Powell walk was followed by a Maine single to put runners on first and third to lead off the inning. With two outs, Burcher lined a three-bagger into center field on a 3-2 count to give the Eagles the lead.
In the bottom of the inning, two Lions crossed the plate on the strength of a triple to center field on a 1-2 count with two outs. Both teams failed to score in the fifth and sixth stanzas before a dramatic finish in the seventh inning.
On 3-2 count, Campbell led off the seventh with a double into leftfield followed by a walk to Spencer Kornspan. After a lineout and an infield flyout, Salgado was walked on four straight pitches to load the bases but the rally fell short on a strikeout to end the game with three Eagles stranded on base.
Burcher accounted for both Golden Eagles runs with two RBIs.
KSU Tusc (5-11) will host Hocking College in a doubleheader on Wednesday at TCCHS with the first game starting at 12pm.
Andrew Powell (left) pitched six solid innings scattering five hits with one earned run, eight strikeouts and three walks at Shenango and recorded a save in
the opening game.
(Photo by Rob Brindley)