SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Sophomore Zachary Pleska (Salem, Ohio/Columbiana) led the Lycoming College baseball team with five hits and two runs and sophomore Nick Reeder (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) added three hits and a run, as Elizabethtown College won a Landmark Conference doubleheader, winning game one 8-5, and game two, 5-3 in 10 innings, at the South Williamsport Community Park.
The Warriors (5-19 overall, 2-11 Landmark) were led by two hits and two runs from Pleska in the second game, as Elizabethtown (17-7 overall, 10-3 Landmark) scored twice in the 10th thanks to a two-RBI single from Bryce Keller to clinch a 5-3 win.
After the Blue Jays scored one run in the fourth, the Warriors took the lead with two in the fifth. First-year Ryan Tan (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) walked to lead off before Pleska singled. A sac bunt got a fortuitous bounce for the Warriors when a throwing error allowed both runners to score.
Elizabethtown tied the game in the sixth and took the lead in the seventh, but the Warriors responded in the bottom of the inning, when Pleska doubled to lead off and scored on a RBI single from sophomore Rick Trapanese (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt).
Senior Zac Zaller (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood), sophomore Joel Inman (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) and first-year Alex Halbert (Laurel, Md./Atholton) allowed just six hits and one earned run in the first nine innings. First-year Grayson Rinker (Jersey Shore, Pa./Montoursville Area) (0-1) allowed two hits and an earned run in one inning. He struck out two. Zach Silfies (4-1) pitched three innings of relief, allowing a hit and striking out six for the Blue Jays.
Mason Woolwine led the Blue Jays, going 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.
Pleska went 3-for-4 and Reeder was 2-for-5 with a run in the first game, as Elizabethtown used two three-run innings to post an 8-5 win.
After the Blue Jays jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first three innings, the Warriors got on the board with three runs in the fourth. Junior Jack Schilling (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) and sophomore Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) led off with walks. After a flyout, Tan drilled a double down the line to bring in a run. Pleska hit a towering fly ball that swirled and fell in the infield to load the bases before a fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed two runs to come in.
The Blue Jays got a run back in the fifth, but the Warriors closed within a run in the seventh, as Reeder singled to lead off and scored on a Schilling double. The Blue Jays added three more in the eighth to lead 8-4 before the Warriors got a run in the ninth. Sophomore Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Wilkes-Barre Area) was hit by a pitch with one out before Reeder reached with an infield single. After a strikeout, Hoheb delivered a double to right center to make it a three-run game, but a flyout ended the threat.
Quinten Perilli went 3-for-6 with three runs and a RBI and AJ Bednar was 2-for-6 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Blue Jays.
Sophomore Noah Miller (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs) (2-3) pitched three innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs and four walks. He struck out five. Justin Peterson (3-0) earned the win for the Blue Jays, pitching three innings, allowing three hits and a run. He struck out four.
The Warriors are back in action on Wednesday, April 10, when they head to Wilkes University for a 4 p.m. Landmark Conference game.
