MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn College lost a 16-14 slugfest to Penn State Abington in the opening round of the United East baseball playoffs Thursday at Penn State Harrisburg. The Wildcats will take on Lancaster Bible College, which fell to Harrisburg in the first game, in Friday's 9 a.m. elimination contest.

How it happened: Nathan Gustkey drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to give Penn College an early 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lions answered with one in the second, one in the third, and four in the top of the fourth to lead 6-1.

Penn College responded with five in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 6-6. Quinn Hannafin's two-run double plated Jake Wagner and Tyler Rudolph before Tristan Current's three-run shot to left brought in Jacob Carles and Hannifin to deadlock the game.

Abington totaled five runs in the sixth and seventh to lead 11-6 before a Hannafin single in the bottom on the seventh made it 11-7. The Lions tacked on five in the top of the ninth to build their lead to 16-7 while Penn College made comeback in the bottom of the frame with six runs. Gustkey drew another bases-loaded walk, Benny Hornburg brought in a pair with a single to right and Tyler Rudolph smacked a three-run homer to left center.

Inside the box: Hannafin paced the offense with three hits, while Current, Rudolph, and Robison picked up a pair of hits. Hannafin, Current, and Rudolph brought in a team-best three runs. Justin Porter took the loss after four innings on the mound. He allowed five earned runs, on 10 hits, with three strikeouts, and two walks.