PSUGA Clinches Playoff Spot with Doubleheader Sweep
New Kensington, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball team (13-13, 8-7) clinched the number three seed in the PSUAC playoffs on Monday when they swept Penn State New Kensington (3-17, 2-13) by scores of 14-0 and 12-0. The offense came alive and collected hits in bunches backing two quality starts on the mound.
With a spot in the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs on the line in game one, Matt Givler (Coatesville, PA./Coatesville HS) turned in a dominant start in game one tossing PSUGA’s first no-hitter in the last two seasons. He struck out five batters over his five innings of work and only allowed one runner to reach on a walk the entire game. It was a strong start, and he got more than enough run support on the day as the bats came alive in the top of the second.
After a fielder’s choice gave PSUGA a runner on first with two outs, Brett Yuhas (Munhall, PA./Steel Valley HS) picked up right where he left off in the series opener on Wednesday. He was able to find the hole on the right side of the infield on an RBI single and PSUGA was out to a 1-0 lead. Pedro Escobar (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) followed up with an RBI double and Dylan Ernst (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) reached on a three base error, and PSUGA was out to a 3-0 lead.
The bats would stay hot all afternoon as they scored five more runs in the top of the third before putting the game away for good with their biggest inning scoring six in the fourth.
After a double, a walk, and a single loaded the bases with nobody out, Marcos Lopez (Caglas, Puerto Rico/Ramey HS) came through with a two-RBI double scoring Hunter Hughes (Murrysville, PA./Franklin Regional HS) and Diego Marzan (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico/Leadership Christian Academy) to extend the lead to 10-0. Blake Flocker (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) and Yuhas would follow suit as PSUGA got three straight RBI doubles and PSUGA got ahead 13-0. Yuhas would come home to score on a wild pitch for PSUGA’s 14th run of the game and they lead 14-0 after four.
Givler would take over from there retiring the next six batters in order, striking out one, to cap off the five-inning no-hitter and clinch his team the #3 seed in the PSUAC West Division Playoffs. Yuhas stayed hot leading PSUGA’s offense going 3-5 with three RBI moving his RBI total for the series to 10. All nine of PSUGA’s starters got a hit in the game as PSUGA clinched their sixth PSUAC playoff berth in the last 10 seasons.
The offense continued to roll in game two getting to New Kensington starter Tyler Kline in the top of the first. After a fielder’s choice put runners at second and third with one out, Brian Koglin (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel HS) came through with a two RBI single and PSUGA was ahead 2-0. Koglin would later come home to score on a wild pitch and PSUGA built a 3-0 lead early. PSUGA would then load the bases with still nobody out and Lopez drew a bases loaded walk. Flocker would add a sacrifice fly and PUGA was ahead 5-0 after one.
PSUGA would just keep the hits coming with three more runs in the second before PSUGA put the nail in the coffin in the top of the third. After Escobar tripled to lead off the inning, Ernst launched his first home run of the year over the left field wall to put PSUGA ahead 10-0. They would add two more runs in the fourth and reliever Zach Schmader (South Park, PA./South Park HS) would close out the game with two scoreless innings.
Koglin led the way going 2-3 with three RBI while Ernst added a 2-3 day with a home run and two RBI in the win. PSUGA will now await their first round opponent as they will either go to PSU-Mont Alto or PSU-DuBois. The first round of the PSUAC playoffs will be played on Friday at a time to be determined