Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Penn State Abington won both ends of a doubleheader, 5-3 and 6-2, over Gallaudet University in a North Eastern Athletic Conference baseball series on Saturday at Hoy Field.
The Nittany Lions (18-18-1, 10-7) have now won three straight while the Bison fell to 24-15 overall and 11-6 in the NEAC. Two strong pitchers carried the Blue and White to a much needed victory as Abington is one game closer to clinching the fourth and final playoff spot in the NEAC.

In the opener, freshman pitcher Diego Melendez led the Nittany Lions on the mound in all seven innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits, sitting down seven Bison batters in the process as the Nittany Lions utilized the opportunity to add runs on the board for the 5-3 victory in the first game.

Gallaudet got the jump on the board in the second inning before Abington responded in the top of the fourth as junior catcher Tom Ditro plated the first run, unearned, for the Blue and White off a throwing error by Gallaudet's pitcher, Brandon Holsworth, to tie up the game. Gallaudet would then retake the lead in the bottom frame as shortstop Blake Phillips belted the ball over towards the left field gap for an RBI single to put the Bison ahead, 2-1.

Abington finally got the hook on Holsworth, driving in three runs in the fifth inning to take its first lead of the game. With two outs and a runner on first, Ditro stepped up and singled to the short stop to move freshman Ted Smallwood to second. On the next batter, freshman infielder Mike Scaringelli nailed the ball out towards the right fielder for what was originally was an easy fly out for sure, ended up becoming an error by the fielder, allowing Ditro and Smallwood to round home for the 3-2 score. Fran Caruso then stepped in the cleanup and connected the ball towards the right center gap for an RBI triple, scoring Scaringelli at home, unearned to give the Nittany Lions an insurance run for the 4-2 lead.

The Blue and White decided that a two run margin was not enough and added another run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from outfielder Tom Kreiling, allowing third baseman Jason Roselli to tag up at third and score Abington's fifth run of the game, unearned. Gallaudet responded with a run of its own in the bottom frame before attempting a final rally in the final inning but Melendez flabbergasted the Bison batters, forcing two fly outs until he walked once and gave up a hit to put a pair of Gallaudet runners on first and second. Melendez tightened up his belt and struck out the last batter of the game for the 5-3 final score.

The dominating pitching continued well into the nightcap as senior pitcher Kevin Faber struck out a career-high 10 Bison batters, allowing just  two runs on nine hits to give the Nittany Lions their second win of the day.

Abington struck early in the second inning as Roselli collected an RBI single to put the Blue and White up 1-0 before adding his second RBI single of the game in the top of the fourth. Two more runs followed as Kreiling knocked in two RBIs with a single out towards center field give the Nittany Lions the 4-0 lead.

Faber's strong pitching kept Gallaudet at bay, although there were times when the Bison had runners in scoring positions, Faber would applaud his fellow teammates for the strong defense to keep the shutout going well into the seventh inning. Abington would tack on two additional runs in the top frame with Scaringelli collecting an RBI triple before scoring the Lions' sixth run of the game on a Caruso sacrifice fly.

Despite the two Gallaudet runs that slipped by the Nittany Lions, Faber remained on task and closed out the doubleheader with a pair of strikeouts before forcing the final Bison batter to ground out towards third for the Nittany Lions' second win of the day.

Kreiling led Abington at the plate with three RBIs after going 3-for-6 with a double and a run, while senior outfielder AJ Vagliani posted a pair of doubles and a single with two runs of his own after going 4-for-8 on the day.

Abington will close out the series and the regular season tomorrow as the Nittany Lions will look to not only sweep the Bison, but also clinch the fourth and final conference playoff spot. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m.