Mont Alto, PA – The CMCC Baseball team completed its spring season opening trip to Pennsylvania, falling to Penn State Monte Alto 13-1 and 7-4 in a doubleheader. Central Maine fell behind early in game one but recovered well to start game two. Unfortunately, the Mustangs could not hold their lead to earn a split of the two contests.
"This trip is always beneficial because it lets us know where we stand," said head coach Ryan Palmer. "I told the guys that the teams that we played in Pennsylvania are 10 to 15 games into their spring season already while we are just starting now. That put us behind the eight ball a little. I was very pleased with all aspects of our game. Our pitchers threw strikes, we hit the ball every game, and for the most part we played sound defense. Now we just need to tie up a few loose ends before conference play starts next week."
Game One, 1-13 L
The Nittany Lions pounced on the Mustangs early in game one, scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the first. Starter Kyle Delano struggled against a heavy hitting lineup, allowing 11 hits including two home runs by James Sibert, without recording an out before Jeff Meisner came on in relief.
In the second, Caiden Smith hit a two-out single between first and second to add another run and make it 13-0. Lee Robertson got on via an error from the centerfielder in the third and Brandon Gour reached on a hit by pitch, with both moving into scoring position thanks to wild pitches. A passed ball behind catcher Cameron Bailey brought Robertson home to break up the shutout.
Zach Garlin pitched a complete game to earn the win and nearly threw a no-hitter. Hayden Durrell ended that with a base knock into center field, but the offense could not muster any more runs, causing the game to end after only five innings.
Game Two, 4-7 L
Much like in Wednesday's doubleheader, the Mustangs had a much better start to game two. CMCC scored in the top of the first with Jake Calver doubling to left before Brady Vincent launched a two-run home run over the right field fence. It was the team-leading third homer of the season for the lefty out of Edward Little High School.
On the mound, starter Logan Carpenter held Penn State scoreless through three innings, allowing just one hit and two baserunners. Durrell led off the top of the fourth with a single into right before Ryan Stone drove him in with a shot through the gap for a 3-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions offense kicked into gear in the bottom half of the inning. A walk and a throwing error got Wyatt Kissel and Carter Fogal into scoring position. Braden Zeger and Gavin Kissel each drove in one with back-to-back sacrifice flies into right field to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Things came undone for Central Maine in the fifth. John Copenhaver led off with a walk, got to second on a passed ball, and came home on an error in left to tie the game. Fogal hit an RBI single past third to plate Sibert. He then stole second and the throwing error by catcher Cameron Dostie allowed Smith to score for a 5-3 lead. Zegler hit yet another sac fly into right field to make it 6-3, ending the day for Carpenter on the mound.
Teddy McFarland came on in relief, allowing a single up the middle from Kissel that scored Nicholas Leckert.
With the lead gone, Elijah Snyder closed things out for Penn State Mont Alto. Calver hit an RBI single into left in the top of the seventh to score Gour, making it a 3-for-4 game at the plate for the Australian. However, CMCC could get no closer, ending the game at 7-4.
The Mustangs return from PA having gone 1-4 over the course of their road trip. They now have a week to prepare for the start of conference play. CMCC welcomes in UMaine-Augusta on Wednesday, April 2nd as their first opponent in the seven-team YSCC. First pitch against the Moose is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
