The Golden Eagles reversed course on their usual game starts and scored early at Penn State Beaver to capture their first win of the season on a blustery Wednesday afternoon in Monaca, PA. KSU Tusc scored five times in the first two innings and tallied all their runs over the first six innings to take a 9-2 win over the Lions.
Charlie Drumm set the tone early in his first at bat and smacked a solo homer down the right field line for an early 1-0 Eagles lead. It was the first of three extra base hits he would pound out over his first three trips to the plate to go along with a four RBI day.
The Lions scored a single run in the home half of the first and loaded the bases before winning pitcher, Scott Sauernheimer struck out a Lions batter to end the uprising and the inning ended in a 1-1 tie.
Caleb Campbell singled to lead off KSU Tusc's second inning and moved to third on a throwing error that allowed Blake Alexander to get all the way to second base. Cooper Dailey brought Campbell in to score with a single and an Evan Klar double scored Alexander from second for a 3-1 Eagles advantage. With Dailey a third and Klar at second, Drumm doubled home both runners for a 5-1 lead before the side was retired.
After a scoreless third, Evan Rissler reached first safely on a fielding error by the Lions third bagger. Drumm brought the big stick to the plate with him once more and swatted another double into right-centerfield to score Rissler and the inning ended with Drumm stranded at third and an 6-1 Eagles lead.
PSU Beaver went down quietly in the bottom of the fourth and the Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. Sebastian Hanlin led things off with a sharp single to left and the Lions changed pitchers after Campbell drew a free pass. The new pitcher walked Alexander and the bags were full as Dailey stepped to the plate.
He was hit-by-pitch and Hanlin was forced to home plate to give the navy and gold a 7-1 lead, as the Lions went to the bullpen once more. Klar came to the plate and lifted a sacrifice fly into left field to bring Dailey home for an 8-1 score as the side was retired on the next batter with two men still on base.
Beaver put a run across the plate after a lead off single and double, and with men on the corners following a fielder's choice and error, they tried to catch the good guys napping with a double steal. A relay throw home from second cut down the Lions runner at home for the third out and the Eagles lead was 8-2.
The hosts threatened again in the bottom of the sixth with a lead off double, but Sauernheimer retired the next three batters on his own the stifle the Lions. He fielded two balls hit back to the mound and retired another via strikeout to preserve the six run lead.
Both teams put up goose eggs in the seventh and in the eighth inning Klar came in to spell Sauernheimer on the mound. Over two innings, Klar faced just seven batters allowing just one single while setting two Lions down on strikes. The game ended with two flyouts to Drumm in center and a ground out to second as the Eagles picked up their first win on the season.
Sauernheimer went seven innings scattering seven hits, allowed two earned runs while striking out eight batters and walking two.
Drumm continued his hot hitting and was 3/5 on the afternoon with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs. Klar was 2/3 with a double, two runs batted in and also scored twice, Dailey was 1/2 with 2 RBIs with a run scored, and Cole Lancaster and Campbell both rapped out a pair of singles in four plate appearances. Campbell crossed the plate twice and Lancaster scored once.
The Eagles are 1-4 on the season and host Penn State Fayette on Tuesday, April 11th at Tuscora Park in a single nine inning contest.
Cooper Dailey was 1/2 with a pair of RBIs at Penn State Beaver.
Infielders surround Scott Sauernheimer and Evan Klar (middle) who teamed up for a 9-2 win over the Lions.
(Photos by Rob Brindley)