Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Reading, Pa. – The Penn State Abington baseball squad dropped a pair of games in a doubleheader earlier Saturday afternoon against Penn State Berks. The Blue and White lost both games in 2-4 and 0-7 fashion. Abington was limited to just nine hits on the afternoon, thanks to some incredible starting pitching from Penn State Berks.

In game one of the doubleheader, Penn State Abington (7-11, 1-4) suffered the rare misfortune of actually outhitting their opponents, but still suffering defeat in the contest. Freshman Tom Kreiling put forth a strong performance as the starting pitcher, throwing a complete game while allowing just four hits and four walks while striking out three of the opposing batters. However, he also allowed four runs, only three of which were earned, and that would end up being enough to topple the visitors in the end. Penn State Berks (6-10, 2-0 NEAC) didn't get many hits against the talented Abington starter, but the ones they did manage came in crucial periods in the game. In the bottom of the second, the hosts loaded the bases with one out, thanks to a runner reaching on an error and back-to-back walks. Freshman Luke Erb came to the plate, and he hit into a fielder's choice on a groundball in the infield. Penn State Abington got the first out at second base, but on an attempt to turn two and get out of the inning, the ball was thrown away, allowing two Berks baserunners to score and giving them a 2-0 lead. Abington cut their deficit to just one run on an RBI groundout from Fran Caruso in the top of the fifth, but Berks regained their original lead and then some in the bottom of that same frame. With runners on second and third, this time it was Dylan Gallagher who came through with a two-out, two-RBI single through the right side of the infield. Once again, Abington attempted to make a comeback, and did manage to make it a 4-2 game when Mike Scaringelli reached on a two-out error in the top of the sixth, allowing Diego Melendez to score. However, that was as close as the visitors would get for the rest of the game, as Berks starter Steve Koenig pitched a quality start of his own. The junior spun a complete game as well, giving up just five hits and one walk to go along with one strikeout and the two runs allowed.
 
Unfortunately for Penn State Abington, the offense didn't get any better in game two. The Nittany Lions ran into another buzz saw of a starting pitcher in Kyle Hartman, a lanky lefty who only allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six Abington batters. Try as they may, Penn State Abington simply couldn't get anything going against Hartman, and with Penn State Berks putting up four runs in the first two innings en route to a 7-0 score, the game was out of reach virtually from the start. The Nittany Lions bullpen did put out a solid outing in the second contest, however. A trio of freshmen, Christian Thompson, Tim Hart, and Christopher Bugieda, combined to pitch three innings of two-hit, no-run ball to close out the game and prevent any further damage.
 
With the losses, the Nittany Lions drop to 7-11 on the season, and are stuck in a four-game losing snap. The squad will look to break out of that streak when they hit the diamond tomorrow afternoon for the final game of the series at Penn State Berks. Game time is scheduled for 12:00 pm in Reading, and be sure to keep checking in at abingtonsports.com for all your news and notes as the Penn State Abington spring sports teams continue their seasons.