Late-inning heroics leads LHU Baseball to sweep over UPJ

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven baseball team overcame a pair of late deficits to sweep Pitt-Johnstown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Watkins Field. Bryce Vincent hit a walk-off single in game one and the Bald Eagles rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth in game two to sweep the doubleheader 5-4 and 5-2.

Saturday was the baseball program’s Senior Day and the program honored Brandt Cook, Garrett Starr, Vincent, Jason Labrador, Joseph DeSiena, Matt Lingenfelter, Ryan Bailer, Stephen McMillan, Lance Baldensperger and John Sanchez.

With the sweep, The Haven improved to 15-24 overall and 5-14 in the PSAC West. UPJ falls to 12-26 on the season and 4-16 in the conference.

Game 1 Recap: Lock Haven 5, UPJ 4

Trailing 4-2 heading into its final at bats, the Bald Eagles rallied for three runs and Vincent hit a walk-off single to steal game one 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh.

The pitching duo of Will Stambaugh and Kevin Grenninger combined to throw seven innings and were effective in keeping the Bald Eagles within striking distance. Stambaugh pitched three innings and allowed one earned run, while striking out one hitter. Grenninger didn’t surrender an earned run in relief and racked up three k’s to earn the victory.

Morgan Billotte continues to be a spark at the top of the order and finished 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.

Ethan Nagy added a pair of hits, an RBI and run scored, while Vincent and Stephen McMillan also drove in runs.

Game 2 Recap: Lock Haven 5, UPJ 2

In game two, the Bald Eagles kept things rolling and used a four-run sixth inning rally to overcome a late-inning one-run deficit to secure the sweep on the afternoon.

The Bald Eagles led 1-0 after the first inning, but UPJ plated two runs to take its first lead in the top of the fifth.

However, the Bald Eagles struck for four runs in the bottom of the sixth and shut the door on the mound from there to clinch the win.

Nagy pitched 4.1 innings and allowed two runs (zero earned) on three hits and struck out six hitters. Lingenfelter and Jace Szaflarski combined to throw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Szaflarski tossed a scoreless seventh inning to earn the save.

Nagy also led the Bald Eagles with his bat as he recorded the lone multi-hit game and also drove in a run. DeSiena drove in a pair of runs to lead the club in RBI, while Tim Rohan and Nathan Wise also picked up RBIs.

DeSiena’s two RBI’s came in the game-sealing rally in the sixth inning for Lock Haven.

Next up for The Haven:

The Bald Eagles remain home and will host Bloomsburg on Tuesday (April 22) at Watkins Field at 2 p.m. for a PSAC East vs. West non-conference game.