WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Junior right-hander Alex Halbert (Laurel, Md. / Atholton) did not allow an earned run in 5.0 innings to pace the way as the Lycoming College baseball team finished a Landmark Conference series with a 6-3 victory over the University of Scranton on Sunday, April 12 at Brandon Park.
Senior Nick Reeder (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) and sophomore Kaden Shay (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) each had two hits, an RBI, and scored twice, while senior A.J. Llorente (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) drove in a pair. Halbert (5-0) allowed one unearned run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts over five innings to earn the win.
Lycoming (15-17, 8-11 Landmark) stroked 10 hits and scored two runs in three separate innings, and stranded 12 Scranton (22-8, 11-4 Landmark) baserunners to claim the series finale.
The Warriors took the lead in the first, primarily through speed. Reeder led off with a single, then stole second and third. After a walk to senior Sean Perkins (Berlin, N.J. / Eastern Regional), Llorente lifted a sacrifice fly to score Reeder. Senior Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Wilkes-Barre Area) singled to put runners on the corners, then Bottger and Perkins pulled off a double steal, with Perkins coming home on the throw to second, pushing the Warriors ahead 2-0.
With the lead, Halbert started his day with three scoreless innings, including working out of a two-on, no-out jam in the third. In the fourth, though, an error opened the door for Scranton, who plated their first run, an unearned tally, on a two-out RBI single by Conor Campbell, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
Halbert followed with a 1-2-3 fifth inning to finish his day. Lycoming extended the lead in the bottom of the frame, as two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Two batters later, Llorente legged out a fielder's choice to drive in one run, with a throwing error on the back end of the play scoring a second for a 4-1 lead.
Senior Landon Evans (Millville, Pa. / Millville) came out of the bullpen for the sixth and stranded two runners in scoring position, then the Warriors added to the lead. With two outs, Shay an RBI single through the left side, then Reeder snuck a ground ball up the middle to score Shay for a 6-1 lead.
Scranton put together one more rally in the seventh, scoring two runs on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a walk before a flyout with the bases loaded kept the Lycoming lead at 6-3,
Junior Grayson Rinker (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Montoursville Area) came out of the bullpen for the eighth and left retiring all six batters he faced to nail down his third save.
Conor Campbell had two hits and an RBI to lead Scranton.
The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday, April 14 for a Landmark Conference matchup at Wilkes. First pitch from Bruggeworth Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
