Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Washington, D.C. - Penn State Abington traveled down to D.C. earlier this afternoon to face off against Gallaudet University in the start of a crucial weekend in terms of the postseason. The Nittany Lions got a big 11-5 win in game one before losing a tough 4-3 decision in extra innings in game two. Dan Hill got the win in the opening game, while many players, including Bill Parave and Mike Kerns, had some great at bats for the Blue and White.
 
Penn State Abington (18-17, 8-2 NEAC) got off to a roaring start in the opening inning of game one. The Nittany Lions started the contest with four straight singles, the fourth being a two RBI single down the left field line. After a groundout, Tom Ditro and Pat Moran followed up with two more singles of their own, making the score 4-0. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Dustin Kology came to the plate for the second time in the inning and singled to third for another run. Mark McCouch followed that, and two runs scored on an error when McCouch lifted a fly ball into center field. By the time Gallaudet finally got out of the inning, the Nittany Lions held a 7-0 lead.
 
Gallaudet (15-18, 7-3 NEAC) made their best effort to come back in the game. In the bottom of the second, the Bison struck back for four runs of their own. The big hit in the frame was a two-RBI double down the left field line by Brandon Holsworth. However, Abington's bats were simply to hot to handle for the hosts. The Nittany Lions tacked on insurance runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh to put the game out of reach and hand Abington a big victory over the team right behind them in the NEAC standings. Dan Hill went all seven innings on the mound, giving up just seven hits and five runs while striking out four. Kerns and Ted Smallwood had the best offensive games, with each recording a hit and two RBIs, while McCouch and Kology each had at least three hits and a steal in the game.
 
Game two was a completely different affair than the dominating effort put forth in the opening game. It started out with Gallaudet taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single. For the first time all day, the Nittany Lions faced a deficit, but it did not last terribly long. In the top of the third, the Blue and White came back to retake the lead when Bill Parave singled through the right side of the infield to score A.J. Vagliani from third and knot the game at 1-1. Then it was the Bison's turn to battle back in the fourth inning. The hosts jumped back out to a 3-1 lead on an RBI single and an infield error by the Nittany Lions. However, just as before, Abington was able to tie the game back up in dramatic fashion.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Michael Corrigan laced a single into left center to score Dan Hill and make it a 2-3 ballgame. Then, down to their last at bats of the contest, the Nittany Lions used some perfectly executed small ball to extend the game just a little bit longer. Kology led off the inning with a single, and advanced to second base on a great sacrifice bunt by Mark McCouch. All it took then was a single from Parave to bring Kology home and tie the game at three runs apiece. Unfortunately, this was the closest Abington would get to completing the sweep. The Bison got out of the inning, and then walked off in the bottom of the first extra inning on an RBI single by Jeremy Adams.
 
The split puts Abington's record at 18-17 and 8-2 in the NEAC conference. It also keeps them a game ahead of Gallaudet for second place in the standings, with both teams chasing undefeated Penn State Harrisburg, who hold a 23-9 overall record, for first. The Nittany Lions will have a great chance to leapfrog into that pole position in the conference when they take on Harrisburg in a two-game tilt tomorrow afternoon at Alverthorpe Park. Game one is set to take place at 12:00 pm. Be sure to come out and support Abington on the diamond in their chase for the NEAC regular season title!