LANGHRONE, PA - No matter what kind of spin you try to put on it, it's never a good thing when your squad gets fanned 12 times in a single game.
PBU, losers of three straight to enter the game including six of their last seven, dropped their fourth consecutive contest Wednesday afternoon, this time falling to visiting Penn State Abington in nonconference action by a count of 7-3.
After striking out just four total times in their past three contests combined, PBU struggled to make solid contact throughout the day as their offensive unit was blitzed for a season high 12 strikeouts. But when the Crimson Eagles actually managed to make contact they were able to capitalize as the team combined to sprinkle nine hits throughout the game.
Combine that with a season high eight walks and one would think that PBU should have come away from Wednesday's game with an easy win. But factor in 12 strikeouts, and - well, the outcome will always be much different.
The Crimson Eagles squandered chance after chance, leaving a season high 12 men on base for the game. PBU's inability to execute at opportune times proved to be fatal as the squad scored just three runs on the day despite the nine hits and eight walks.
After the hosts took a 1-0 lead during the bottom of the first, Abington scored two runs in the second, three in the fifth, and two additional scores in the top of the ninth to go up 7-1 with three outs remaining. PBU put together a "mini-rally" as Bobby Lefko singled to left field to start out the bottom of the ninth and Joel Dager followed up with a triple. A Nate King sacrifice fly brought Dager home to score PBU's second run of the period, but the Lions' closing pitching staff quickly wrapped up the game by forcing two consecutive outs.
Joel Dager, who is currently hitting .436 overall on the year, once again put up big numbers for PBU as the senior catcher went three for five with an RBI. Sophomore Phil Hass was two for four at the plate, while Bobby Lefko, Nate King, Jon Shepherd, and Lance Svendsen each finished the afternoon with one hit.
The baseball team will return to conference play on Friday by going head-to-head with Keuka College (2-18, 1-3 NEAC) on the road at 2:00 pm.
