FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College baseball team dropped a non-conference game to visiting Penn State Harrisburg 8-5.
At the Plate
On the Mound
- Starter Jordan Patterson pitched five strong innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and a walk, and struck out eight.
- The last of the Blazers' six pitchers, Jahlin Jean-Baptiste struck out six in two innings.
- Hood's staff struck out 16 batters in all.
How it Happened
- Patterson retired the first nine batters he faced over the opening three innings. Hood had a chance to get in front early, loading the bases in the second inning on a Patterson walk, a Kroeger single and one of the Nittany Lions' five errors on the day. Travis Van Houten managed to pick up a strikeout to escape the jam, however.
- Chase Smith led off the fourth with a single for Harrisburg, stole second and moved to third on a base hit by Ryan McSorley. A wild pitch brought Smith home for a 1-0 lead.
- Smith was hit by a pitch to start the sixth. A pickoff throw went wild, allowing him to advance all the way to third before another wild pitch made it 2-0.
- The Nittany Lions broke the game open in the seventh. The first three batters were all hit by pitches to load the bases. After a fielder's choice resulted in the first out, another wild pitch brought in a run. Smith followed with an RBI single for a 4-0 lead and another wild pitch gave Harrisburg a five-run edge. McSorley added an RBI single and Van Houten helped his own cause with an RBI groundout to make it 7-0.
- The Blazers' half of the inning resulted in two runs. Hood loaded the bases with two outs and after a dropped foul ball Sawyer drew a bases-loaded walk. Beck was hit by a pitch to make it 7-2.
- Trent Copenhaver led off the eighth with a single and scored on a base hit by Rampone to cut the deficit to four heading into the ninth.
- After the Nittany Lions made it 8-3, Hood tried to rally one last time. Sawyer led off the inning with a double down the line in left. Beck followed with a single and then stole second to put runners on second and third. Copenhaver knocked in a run with a groundout and Kroeger hit an RBI triple to score Beck.
For the Opponent
- Smith scored four of Harrisburg's eight runs. McSorley and Bret Williams added three hits apiece.
- Van Houten picked up the win with seven innings of work. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits and three walks.
Notes
- Hood slipped to 4-3 overall.
- The Nittany Lions improved to 3-1.
Up Next
The Blazers host Cabrini on Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m.