Baseball drops doubleheader against Penn St.-Behrend

The Muskingum baseball team dropped game one of its doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, 8-4. In game two, the Muskies fell to the Lions, 7-5.

• Records: Muskingum (4-9 overall), Penn State-Behrend (5-5 overall)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio - Mose Morehead Field

Freshman Jake Norris started on the mound for Muskingum and pitched 2.0 innings. Norris allowed one run on two hits and tallied two strikeouts. 

Freshman Sam Pinckert put Muskingum on the board in the bottom of the second inning when he singled to left field, bringing in senior Michael Pagano. In their next at-bat, the Muskies increased their lead to 2-0 after freshman Brett Carson singled to center field, driving home sophomore Matt Stewart.

Penn State-Behrend started to heat up in the top of the seventh inning when they scored three runs to gain a 3-2 edge. The Lions went on to extend their lead by one run in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Carson reached first on an error that allowed senior Ben Van Wey and Stewart to come home, tying the game 4-4. However, in the top of the tenth, the Lions managed to bring in four runs and take an 8-4 lead. Penn State-Behrend's defense halted the Muskie comback bid on the way to its game one victory.

Freshman Craig Nixon pitched the first five innings for Muskingum in game two. Nixon allowed seven runs on six hits and struck out four batters.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the top of the third inning when they managed to score four runs. Stewart answered for the Muskies in the bottom of the third when he scored on a throwing error.

In the top of the fourth innning, Penn State-Behrend brought in one run off a fielding error to make it 5-1. The Muskies fought back in the bottom of the fourth when senior Marc Ibarra singled to bring home freshman Chayce Lundell. Then, Pinckert singled to drive in Ibarra. Muskingum made it 5-4 after Stewart singled, allowing junior Ashton Budzinski to cross the plate.

The Muskies tied the game at 5 when Pagano blasted a single to right field, driving home Carson. In the top of the sixth, the Lions gained a 7-5 edge after a home run with two RBI's. Penn State-Behrend rode this momentum en route to its second win of the day in New Concord. 

The Muskies next travel to Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday, March 20. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.