Lycoming News

Penn College baseball secured a 9-3 victory over Wilkes in a nonconference game on Thursday. This win improved the Wildcats' record to 8-11, while the Colonels fell to 15-4.

The Wildcats made a strong start by scoring seven runs in the first inning. Dallas Griess initiated with a leadoff double and scored on Jaiden Augustine's single. Shawn Townsend reached base due to an error, and Adam Aldenderfer walked, loading the bases. Quinn Hanafin's infield single brought Augustine home, and both Townsend and Aldenderfer scored on Matt Munoz's groundout, giving Penn College a 4-0 lead.

Brandon Shane and Jaydon Goebel followed with singles that loaded the bases again. John Croasdale earned an RBI walk for a 5-0 advantage, prompting Wilkes to change pitchers. Shane and Goebel later scored on wild pitches, marking the Wildcats' highest run count in a single inning this season.

In the seventh and eighth innings, Penn College added one run each through Matt Munoz's RBI-double and an Aldenderfer RBI-single.

Jason Cute and Jonas McGrath combined efforts on the mound for six scoreless innings. Each pitched three innings with two hits allowed and seven strikeouts between them, keeping Wilkes scoreless until the seventh inning.

Aldenderfer and Hanafin both achieved 3-for-4 at-bats with an RBI each; Aldenderfer also scored twice while Hanafin crossed home once. Mason Balfanz closed out the final three innings for the save, striking out four batters.

Next up for Penn College is a game against Elmira on Tuesday at 3 p.m., following their weekend break.