UTICA, N.Y. – Penn College rallied to knock off Penn State Berks 9-7 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Championship game Sunday. The Wildcats became the first Penn College team to hoist the NEAC trophy in the college's inaugural season in the conference.
Penn College wrapped up the 2015 season at 18-18. The defending NEAC champion Nittany Lions fell to 20-17-1, but get the NEAC's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III tournament because Penn College is in the first year of NCAA provisional membership and cannot compete in the NCAA tournament.
"I am so proud of this group," said Penn College coach Chris Howard. "Our bats got hot at the right time, our middle defense was awesome and our pitching depth allowed us to get through this tournament.
"To see where this team started the season in March, to where we ended up today is a testament to the character of these guys."
After Berks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning,
Noah Esposito evened the game with a single to left that scored
Zach Weil.
The Wildcats took their first lead, 4-1, with three runs in the third inning.
Carlos Rodriguez stroked a one-out single and
Evan Vigna followed with single to right. Weil brought both home on a double to left center and tournament MVP
Cole Weachock plated Weil with a triple to right field.
The Lions chased Penn College starter
Aaron Palmer in the fourth inning after four runs in the frame to lead 5-4. Palmer went 3.1 innings, striking out one, walking two and allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits.
Nick Perna relieved Palmer.
Penn College answered in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good with five runs on four hits.
Deric Ellerman led off with a walk and scored after
Dylan Scaringi hit a single, and
Jeremy Rall smacked a RBI single to center.
Evan Vigna's single to center plated both Rodriguez and Rall before scoring later on a fielder's choice from Weachock to put the Wildcats ahead 9-5.
"Timely hitting was very important for us in winning the championship," Howard explained. "In all three games this weekend we needed runs at some point and the guys made it happen."
Berks pulled within two runs after a run in each of the sixth and eighth innings.
Perna earned the win after 3.2 innings in relief. He struck out two, walked two and allowed two runs (one earned) and three hits.
Ryan Hostrander fired a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save this season for Penn College.
"We started the tournament with a complete-game win by Hoss and ended it with him retiring the side in order," Howard said. "A great player to have to bookend the championship weekend for us."
Vigna finished with three hits for Penn College, while Weil and Weachock both had two hits.
