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HAMPTON, Va. – The “big inning”
bug bit the Lock Haven University baseball team (2-2),
forcing the Bald Eagles to take two losses, a 9-1 finish
to Kutztown University (4-3) and a 7-4 decision to host
Apprentice School (6-4). The Bald Eagles allowed a total
of 11 runs in the two fourth innings today, day two of the
Builder Invitational.
In game
one, the LHU bats were held in check, scattering just
three hits over seven innings and getting one run. The
Bald Eagles fell behind early, as Kutztown posted three
runs in the first.
KU
tacked on five more in the fourth, putting the game out of
reach. Kutztown starter Mike McCardell threw five innings
of shutout ball, striking out nine.
LHU got
just one extra-base hit, a double off the bat of freshman
Mike Dunkailo (Taylor,
Pa./Riverside). The lone Bald
Eagle run came in the seventh, as a
Shawn Frederick (Williamsport, Pa./S.Williamsport)
single preceded Dunkailo’s double, moving Frederick to
third. One out later, leftfielder
Aaron Neideigh (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley)
plated Frederick on a groundout to
short.
Lock
Haven out-hit host Apprentice School in game two, 9-5.
After a Dave
Miller (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) single in the
third tied the game at one, the Builders responded with a
six-run fourth to sprint out in front.
Bald
Eagle starter Bryan Stamm
(Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg)
was sharp for much of his first start, fanning four in 3.1
innings. His five walks—including three and a hit-by-pitch
in that crucial fourth inning—proved to be his downfall.
LHU
answered with a three-run inning in the bottom half,
getting right back in the game. A fielder’s choice got the
scoring started after a pair of singles and an out,
scoring freshman catcher Travis
Ruane (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville).
Pinch-hitter
Blake Barbini
(Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area)
scored on an outfielder’s error and a
Kurt
Elbin (Bedford, Pa./Bedford)
sacrifice fly capped the scoring for the Haven.
Niether
team would make any noise after that point. Unsung heroes
for the Bald Eagles today were
Andy Leakey
(State College, Pa/State College)
and
Ian Whinnery
(Towanda, Pa/Towanda) who held
the Builders scoreless on two hits for the final 3.2
innings, keeping it close for the LHU hitters.
Dunkailo, Frederick, Neideigh, Miller, Stamm, Ruane,
Barbini, Elbin, Leakey, Whinnery and the rest of the Bald
Eagles are back in action Sunday, Feb. 27, at 11:30 a.m.
as they face the winner of East Stroudsburg University and
Bloomsburg University in the Builder Invitational
consolation game. |
