Hazleton makes it four straight with sweep in home opener vs. Vaughn College

Drifton, PA - Penn State Hazleton earned its fourth straight victory on Thursday with two convincing wins against Vaughn College. The Lions dominated the box score in game one with eight of nine starters reaching base and efficient pitching to defeat the Warriors 14-4 in five innings. Hazleton conitnued to pour on the offense in game 2 while holding Vaughn to just three hits in a 12-2 victory.

Game 1: Penn State Hazleton 14, Vaughn College 4 (Final, 5 Innings)

Bottom 1: Two Lions reach base to lead of the bottom half of the first. Corey Ryba singles to left field, bringing in his brother Cody with Tyler Myers following close behind due to an error in the Vaughn outfield. Ryba swipes a pair of bases and scores on an errant throw to put Hazleton up 3-0.

Bottome 2: Hazleton scores two quick runs on balls to the backstop and with a runner on third base, Corey Ryba comes through again, this time with a line drive up the middle to plate Hazleton's sixth run in the early goings of game one.

Top 3: Vaughn College sends eight batters to the plate to threaten the Nittany Lions lead. With runners on second and third, Mikhail Rodriguez drives in a pair of runs for the Warriors to cut the lead to three. After a stolen base, Frederick Thomas brings in Rodriguez with an RBI single, making it a 6-4 affair.

Bottom 3: Max Mott skies a fly ball to score Aaron Glass from third base on the sacrifice fly, streching the Lions lead back to a three run advantage.

Bottom 4: Hazleton pulls away from Vaughn, taking advantage of miscues in the Warrior infield. With the score 9-4, Aaron Glass brings in a run on a ground ball with the bases loaded, followed by a sacrifice fly RBI from catcher Joseph Winter to put the Lions up 11-4.

Bottom 5: Jared Carrelli leads off the inning with a line drive double to the outfield and later scores on a wild pitch. With one runner aboard, Corey Ryba comes through with a double of his own to drive in his fourth RBI of the game. With Ryba standing on third base, a ground ball from Joseph Nigito was all Hazleton needed to end the game early 14-4.

Behind the Box Score:

• Corey Ryba collects season highs going three for four at the plate with three runs scored, three RBI, and three stolen bases.
• Starlin Colon pitches five inning gem for Hazleton, surrenduring no earned runs on five hits, while striking four to earn his first win of the year.
• Nittany Lions wreak havoc on the basepaths, swiping eight stolen bases.

Game 2: Penn State Hazleton 12, Vaughn College 2

Bottom 1: Hazleton sends seven batters to the plate, jumping out to another early lead. A double from Brian Griest scores Colon from third base, and after scoring a second run on a passed ball, Charles Ziegmont slaps an RBI line drive single to put Hazleton up 3-0.

Top 3: After facing facing just seven batters through the first two frames, Sam Yeager is touched up by catcher Dashawn Johnson's solo homerun to left field. Yeager retires the side to limit the damage and maintain a 3-1 lead for Hazleton.

Bottom 3: Four straight Nittany Lions reach base to begin the fourth inning and take full advantage of Warrior struggles on the mound. Three walks and three wild pitches lead to a trio of Hazleton scores. With a runner on third base, Tyler Marnell scores Ziegmont on a sacrifice fly to right field upping the Lions lead to 7-1.

Top 4: After a  two-out base on balls to Paolo Adraga, Joshua Labiner lines a single to centerfield. An error by the Lions centerfield brings Adraga in from first base to cut the lead to five in favor of Hazleton.

Bottom 4: Hazleton retaliates with a pair of hits in the bottom half. Charlie Karchner triples to deep left center and scores on a passed ball. Nigito singles and later scores on the sixth Warrior wild pitch of the game, pushing the advantage to 9-2 in favor of the Lions.

Bottom 5: Starlin Colon picks up an insurance run for Hazleton on a ground ball out to score Richard Hobbs from third base.

Bottom 6: Needing just two runs to close out the game, Nigito triples to center scoring Griest from second base. Unable to field the ball cleanly, a ground ball from Ryan Wiedick brings in Nigito to end the game in six innigs 12-2.

Behind the Box Score:

• Hazleton batters one through four collect six of the Lions seven hits in the ballgame. 
• Yeager earns first win, allowing just eight Vaughn batters to reach base, one earned run, and seven strikeouts.
• DH Brian Griest collects two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI to pace the Lions offense.

Next Up: A day off after four wins in two days for Hazleton. The Lions return to Penn State University Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they take on PSU Mont Alto at 2 PM at the Drifton Sports Complex.