The Penn State Shenango Baseball team took their talents south to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for some warm weather games last week. The team finished with three wins and three losses, while an additional three games were cancelled due to the weather.
The Lions got off to a hot start in Game #1 of their Tuesday doubleheader against St. Clair County CC. The first two innings saw St. Clair nab a one-run lead before Shenango's offensive flood gates opened in the 3rd and 4th innings. St. Clair would make a late game comeback attempt in the 7th, but it wasn't enough, as Shenango would take the game 11-7. Game #2 saw a different ending as St. Clair was able to keep things close thanks to a six-run explosion in the bottom of the 4th inning. Shenango would tie the game in the top of the 6th inning after scoring three runs to bring the game to 7-7. The Lions, however, were walked off in the bottom of the inning by a final of 8-7.
Game #3 was played Wednesday night against fellow commonwealth campus Penn State Schuylkill. The teams took a 0-0 tie into the top of the 4th inning before Schulykill would opening the scoring. Shenango answered with a Stephen Tarnoci homerun in the bottom of the 5th, but that was all they could muster as Schuylkill put their foot on the gas, running away with the game, 14-3.
Freshman Mason Walker threw a gem in Game #4 on Thursday afternoon against Muskegon Community College. Walker went the distance, throwing all seven innings and striking out five, while only surrendering three hits and walking one batter. Shenango provided the offensive support needed to win, ending the game 6-0. The Lions couldn't get the bats going in Game #5 when they took on Bay College. The men could only muster one run over seven innings in a game that was played at Socastee High School, falling 7-1.
Shenango left Myrtle on an exciting note as the team won a thriller in nine innings against Delaware Tech Community College on Friday night. Delaware Tech jumped out to an early lead after putting up five runs in the second. The Lions battled back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, a wild pitch allowed the game winning run to cross the plate, giving the Lions a 7-6 win.
Shenango Baseball will be back in action, this time up north, Wednesday, March 13th when they take on Lorain County Community College in a doubleheader at Eastwood Field. The first pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 12 PM.