Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Abington, Pa. – The Penn State Abington Nittany Lions continued their three-game series against the visiting Kangaroos of SUNY Canton earlier this afternoon in a sunny but windy doubleheader. The Blue and White lost the first game by a score of 2-6 before coming away with a victory in the rubber match of the series, holding off the 'Roos for a 6-5 win. Canton pitcher Travis Legacy was dominant in earning his team the win in the first game, but seniors Dan Hill and Bill Parave helped carry the Nittany Lions to victory in game two.
 
After yesterday's 17-3 victory, the Nittany Lions (6-12, 0-0 NEAC) were looking to carry over their offensive momentum into today's doubleheader. However, it was the 'Roos who got on the board first in their first at bats of the game. After a groundout to third to open the game, Canton got back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After a wild pitch moved both runners up a base, junior Jordan Hunneyman came up with an RBI single to left field to bring in the first run of the game and put the Kangaroos up 1-0. However, the Nittany Lions defense stepped up big to shut down the threat before anymore damage was done. First, the infield did a great job of cutting down a runner at home on a delayed double steal, and then a groundout to second base ended the inning.
 
Abington went three up, three down in their first turn at the plate, and SUNY Canton (3-12) used a two-out rally to explode for three more runs in the second inning. With two outs and the bases empty, a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Gerardo Torres, and the senior outfielder came through with an early backbreaker against Nittany Lions starter Brian Camp. Torres sent a ball deep into left center, just shy of the warning track, for a bases-clearing double. Although Camp was able to get out of the inning after that, the damage had already been done, and Torres' hit ended up being the game-winner.
 
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the bottom of the frame. Dan Hill and Mike Kerns hit back-to-back singles, setting the plate for Tom Ditro. The sophomore shortstop executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with just one out. After a strikeoue, Chris Hunter came through with a two-out RBI, hitting a trickler that rolled right through the pitcher's legs and allowed Kerns to score from third. In the bottom of the fourth, Hill laced a line drive into deep left field, allowing Bill Parave to score from third and making the score 2-4 in favor of Canton.
 
Unfortunately for the Blue and White, that was all they would get for the rest of the game. Canton tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning, and with 'Roos starter Travis Legacy dealing on the mound, the Nittany Lions simply had no chance to catch the visitors. Legacy pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out five batters. His batterymate, Chris Sacks, had almost as good a game from behind the plate, cutting down all three Nittany Lions who attempted to steal against him. For the home team, Hill and Hunter knocked in the only runs of the day, but it was simply a struggle to put any offense together against a tough starter.
   
Game two was a completely different story for the Nittany Lions. Abington got things started early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. After a flyout to open their half-inning, Mark McCouch and Bill Parave both got on base, and ultimately, stole their way to second and third. Mike Kerns came up next, grounding out to short but bringing in a run and moving Parave to third. With two outs, it was Dan Hill at bat, and the powerful first baseman sent a single into center field to bring in the second run and give Abington their first lead of the day.
 
The Nittany Lions got another run off of a throwing error in the bottom of the second, but then Canton came back in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. With the bases loaded, the 'Roos came through with two straight singles and a sacrifice fly off of Abington starter Sean McNeill to knot the game back up. However, it was the closest they would get for the rest of the game.
 
In their very next at bats, the Nittany Lions got those three runs back. With one out and two runners on, an error by the center fielder allowed Mark McCouch to safely reach base, also scoring Connor MacFarlene from third. Then, it was Bill Parave who came through with the clutch hit, an RBI double down the right field line that scored Chris Hunter and McCouch and extended the Nittany Lions lead to 6-3.
 
After Canton got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth, the Nittany Lions moved to their bullpen to shut down the 'Roos for the rest of the game. First in was Kevin Faber, who closed out the rest of the fifth and then allowed one run in the sixth to set up Mark McCouch to close out the game. Trailing by one, SUNY Canton was simply overpowered by the lanky senior. McCouch got the first batter to strike out looking with a great pitch on the outside corner. The next batter grounded out to Ditro at shortstop. Finally, McCouch sent a fastball blazing right through the swing of the final Canton batter for his second strikeout of the game, earning the save and preserving a 6-5 Penn State Abington victory.
 
The Nittany Lions move to 6-12 with the split on the day, and have a chance to improve their record even more tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Ursinus College. Game one is set to start at 12:00 pm.