ALTOONA, Pa. - The resilient Hawks responded to an extra innings loss in game one with six unanswered runs to earn a comeback victory in game two.
Final Scores:
Game 1: Penn State Altoona 3, Hilbert 1
Game 2: Hilbert 7, Penn State Altoona 2
Records: Hilbert 14-16 (6-6), Penn State Altoona 11-17 (3-7)
Game One:
* It was a pitchers duel in game one as starters Blaine Morgan and Kyle Glass were locked in from the jump.
* Altoona got on the board first in the bottom of the second by scratching one run across off three hits to take an early 1-0 lead.
* Morgan and Glass each posted three shutout frames to follow, resulting in a 1-0 Lions lead heading into the sixth.
* In the top of the sixth, Jairo Santos and John Riviere Vejas smacked back to back doubles to tie it up at 1-1.
* After Morgan shutdown Altoona's offense in the sixth, the Hawks turned to Griffin McAndrews whom posted two shutout frames of his own to keep the Hawks alive through extras.
* The Hawks were unable to take the lead in the eighth or ninth. Then in bottom nine, the Lions hit a walkoff 2-run shot to earn a dramatic 3-1 extra-inning win.
* Blaine Morgan took a no-decision after allowing just one run over six innings of work. The freshman right-hander finished with no walks and one strikeout. Griffin McAndrews took the loss after going 2.2 innings allowing two runs off the big fly.
* Three Hawks recorded hits. John Riviere Vejas and Jairo Santos each hit doubles.
Game Two:
* The second game started a little differently with the Lions coming out of the gate with two runs in the first to take an early 2-0 lead.
* From there, it turned into another pitchers duel as the Hawks starter would settle in, posting three shutout innings to keep the game within reach.
* Hilbert would get on the board in the third when designated hitter Patrick Whelan sent an RBI triple to deep right center to plate Frank McCabe and cut the deficit to 2-1.
* In the fifth, the Hawks turned to Jordan Brown out of the bullpen. The senior right-hander answered the bell with a quick 1-2-3 inning. Then in the sixth, freshman Jackson Choinski belted his first career home run when he sent a deep fly over the right field fence, tying the game at 2-2.
* Brown shutdown the Lions offense in the bottom of the inning, allowing the Hawks offense to go back to work in the seventh where they exploded for five runs off five hits, including a 2-run shot from Misael Guzman Caez to take a 7-2 lead.
* Jordan Brown posted his third shutout inning of the game in the seventh by stranding the bases loaded with a game-ending double play to earn his first career win.
* Misael Guzman Caez paced the offense going 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Patrick Whelan had a strong day at the plate as well going 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI.
Up Next:
* The Hilbert College baseball team is back in action on Tuesday as they play host to their crosstown rival Medaille for a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. Prior to game one the Hawks will honor their seven seniors who will be wrapping up their college baseball careers at the conclusion of this season.
