ETTRICK, Va. – The Lock Haven University baseball team (2-3) split their doubleheader against Virginia State (4-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Bald Eagles dropped the first game, 3-2, but bounced back to claim the win in the second game 3-0. Defense and pitching carried the day in two low-scoring non-conference affairs.
Game 1: L, Virginia State 3, Lock Haven 2
Game one started out scoreless until Virginia State went up 1-0 in the third on an RBI single. In the fifth inning, reigning NCBWA Region Player of the Week
Jake Mastillo (Roaring Brook Twp, Pa./North Pocono) got the Bald Eagles going with an RBI single to drive home
Gavin Troutman (Boyertown, Pa./Oley Valley) to tie the game at 1-1.
Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) singled in the fifth inning to claim the lead for LHU, scoring Mastillo on an error to lead 2-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Virginia State reversed the deficit and hit a go-ahead two-run double to retake the lead, 3-2. The Trojans held on the remaining innings to bring home the 3-2 win.
David Keller (Oreland, Pa/Christopher Dock Mennonite) took the mound for the Bald Eagles, struck out eight and allowed three earned runs in six innings of work.
Game 2: W, Lock Haven 3, Virginia State 0
LHU opened the scoring in the first as Troutman scored on a balk by the Trojan pitcher. Later in the inning,
Zach Kaatz (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) doubled the lead for the Bald Eagles with an RBI-single that would drive in
Joe Shannon (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent (Mercer CC)) to put The Haven up 2-0.
With the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, Troutman took a walk to drive in Kaatz to close out the scoring for LHU at 3-0. The Bald Eagles claimed the win 3-0, and earned their first shutout win since the season finale against No. 6 Millersville in 2019.
A trio of Bald Eagles were sensational on the mound to keep the shutout,
RJ Kruse (Milford, Pa./ Delaware Valley (Lackawanna)) picked up the win with three innings of shutout baseball.
Jared Colledge (Everett, Pa./Everett Area) came on in the fourth and pitched three innings in relief before
Brandon Lingenfelter (State College, Pa./State College) closed the final inning with a save, striking out all three of his batters faced.
SCHEDULE UPDATE:
Due to inclement weather, Sunday's doubleheader has been canceled against Virginia State. There have been no plans made to reschedule between the two teams.