WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A five-run rally in the seventh inning of the second game of Saturday, March 15's non-conference doubleheader helped lift the Lycoming College baseball team to a 6-4 win over SUNY New Paltz to split the twinbill after falling, 4-3, in the first game.
 
Down 3-1 through 6 ½ innings, the Warriors' rally was kickstarted with a one-out double off the wall by junior right fielder Zachary Pleska (Salem, Ohio/Columbiana) before first-year catcher Tyler Wetzel (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) drew a walk. After a groundout, senior first baseman Danny DeLucas (Whittier, Calif./La Serna) hit a fly ball to left that was just out of the reach of a diving outfielder to tie the game. After junior third baseman Brody Lindsey (Monrovia, Md./DeMatha Catholic) and junior designated hitter A.J. Llorente (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) walked to load the bases, sophomore shortstop Sean Perkins (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) delivered a line single into center and sophomore first baseman Eric MacCluen (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) also drove in a run with a single.
 
New Paltz (5-5 overall) got on the board with a homer in the top of the fifth before Pleska responded with a homer in the bottom of the inning. The Hawks took the lead with two runs in the sixth and added another in the eighth, but first-year Eddie Weindel (Stewartsville, N.J./Philipsburg) got a strikeout with the bases loaded, sophomore Grayson Rinker (Jersey Shore, Pa./Montoursville Area) got out of the inning with a fly out to right. Rinker allowed two hits in the ninth, but struck out two before getting a groundout to end the game.
 
Pleska led the Warriors (8-6 overall), going 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and a homer. DeLucas was also 2-for-5 with a run, a double and two RBI.
 
Junior Landon Evans (Millville, Pa./Millville) (2-1) earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two hits and one run while striking out three. Connor Catania (0-1) took the loss, allowing two hits, two walks and four runs.
 
Dillon Ristano led the Hawks, going 4-for-5 and Garrett Grathwohl was 3-for-3 with a homer.
 
Lycoming wrapped 13 hits in the first game, but a three-run third inning helped New Paltz hang on for a 4-3 win.
 
DeLucas went 3-for-4 and Perkins was 2-for-3 with two runs for the Warriors. MacCluen and junior left fielder Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Wilkes-Barre Area) also each had two hits.
 
The Hawks led 4-0 after 3 ½ innings when the Warriors rallied in the bottom of the fourth. Perkins was hit by a pitch before senior second baseman Evan Mok () had an infield single. A wild pitch moved Perkins up and a stolen base allowed Mok to get to second, setting up an RBI groundout from junior catcher Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J./Brick Township). A bunt single by Bottger brought in Mok.
 
Lycoming brought the tying run to third base in the seventh, as Perkins hit a one-out double. After a popout, MacCluen singled up the middle and Hoheb drove in Perkins with a single to right, but a popup ended the game.
 
Junior Mason Drozal (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing six hits and four runs. He walked two and struck out two. Michael Weed earned the win for the Hawks, allowing eight hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three. Ryan Knierieman had a seven-out save, allowing five hits and a run.
 
The Warriors wrap up their set with SUNY New Paltz on Sunday, March 16, when they host a 7-9 doubleheader at 9 a.m. at Brandon Park.