Lions wrap up Wilkes-Barre series with pair of victories

Hazleton, Pa. - The Hazleton Nittany Lions improved to 5-7 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference on Tuesday with a pair of victories over Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Hazleton completed the four-game sweep with a 15-7 victory in game one, followed by a resounding 9-0 win in game two. Hazleton picked up 19 hits in the double-header and got solid pitching performances from second year players Hunter Schmidt and Tyler Sewell, both of whom earned their first wins from the mound for the 2024 season. 

Game one: Penn State Hazleton 15, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 7 - Final

Hazleton started off red hot in the day's first game. The Lions reeled off six runs in their first at bat including RBI doubles from third year player Eric Sonntag and fourth year player Joshua Robin. Hazleton's four additional scores in the frame were aided by four errors from the Wilkes-Barre defense as the Lions took command early. Hazleton bolstered their advantage with another big inning in the top half of the third frame as Hazleton collected four hits in the frame to plate five additional runs. This time it was fourth year player Solomon Grant and first year player Briar Campbell inflicting the damage with Grant singling in a run and Campbell slapping a two-run double to the gap in left field, allowing the Lions to go up 11-1. Hazleton would wind up tallying 13 runs by their fourth at-bat and although Wilkes-Barre made the game competitive with six runs scored in the third and sixth innings, Hazleton never allowed the tying run to come to the plate, and went on to tack on their final two scores in the seventh frame on a double by second year player Andrew Meitzler and a productive ground ball out from Sonntag, bringing the game to its final score of 15-7. 

Hunter Schmidt threw well in the win, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing five earned runs on nine hits. Second year player Ryan Turant came into the game in relief to finish off the final five outs of the ball game without allowing a hit. Offensively it was Sonntag's day as the third year player finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Second year player Maximus Cuevas added two hits and three runs scored in the win while first year player Jacob Bobish went 1-for-3 with two RBI. 

Game two: Penn State Hazleton 9, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 0 - Final

After a scoreless first inning, second year player Jake Barto broke the 0-0 stalemate with a towering two-run homer to left field, putting the Lions up 2-0. Ryan Turant had finished game one on the hill for the Lions and suited up once again for the start in game two. After pitching a scoreless first inning, Turant finished off Wilkes-Barre in the bottom of the second frame before exiting the game with second year player Tyler Sewell in relief. Hazleton Sewell continued where Turant left off, mowing down Wilkes-Barre hitters as the duo allowed just two hits in their combined six innings of work. Meanwhile, Hazleton continued to produce on offense, notching a pair of scores in the third inning and a combined five runs in the fifth and sixth frames to claim a 9-0 win. 

Andrew Meitzler finished as Hazleton's only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate while Barto inflicted the most damage for the Lions, ending the game 1-for-3 with three RBI and the second inning home run. Other notables for Hazleton included Sonntag and Robin who ended the day 1-for-3 with two RBI while first year Gavin Wallace a hit and an RBI respectively. 

Next up: The Lions next matchup comes on Saturday when Hazleton travels to Schuylkill Haven, Pa. to take on Penn State Schuylkill. First pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.