FERRUM, Va. - Penn State Harrisburg's baseball team opened the 2022 campaign by splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Ferrum on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 26. The Lions dropped the opener 4-0 but bounced back in a big way with a decisive 16-7 victory in the nightcap. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (0-1) had its opportunities but couldn't capitalize in a 4-0 game one loss to Ferrum (4-1) on Saturday afternoon. 

The Lions had three runners reach scoring position but were unable to plate any of them. Despite the lack of offensive production, starting pitcher Drew Harshbarger turned in a strong effort, going 4.1 innings and striking out eight Panthers on the day. 

Ferrum struck first in the bottom of the opening frame when a two-out wild pitch allowed the first run to come across. The home team used the combination of a pair of singles, a fielder's choice, and another wild pitch to plate another run in the bottom of the fourth before tacking on another in the bottom of the fifth. The Panthers added one last insurance run, this one of the unearned variety, to cap the game's scoring in the seventh.

The best scoring chance for the Blue & White came in the top of the second when they were able to load the bases with two away but a ground ball back to the pitcher ended the threat. 

GAME 2

Game two was night and day compared to the opener, with Penn State Harrisburg (1-1) coming to life at the plate to the tune of 13 hits, including a trio of extra-base knocks, in the decisive win over Ferrum (4-2).

The Lions fell behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first but shook off the slow start and erupted in the middle innings. A single by Parks drove in Kevin Lehner in the top of the fourth, setting the stage for a massive fifth stanza that saw the Blue & White take advantage of a Chase Smith home run, four walks, four wild pitches, and a hit by pitch to score six runs and take their first lead of the day.

The visitors added another run in the sixth and erupted again in the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits and three walks. Drew Sassaman drove in a pair of runs with a two-out RBI single before Lehner stole home to make it 13-6 through six and a half. 

Despite the sizable lead, Penn State Harrisburg left no doubt and used three hits and a Ferrum error to tack on three more runs in the top of the ninth. 

NOTABLES

- Dallas Hite and Matt Parks each went 2-for-4 in the opener. Hite fifth-inning double was the game's lone extra-base hit.

- Drew Harshbarger struck out eight and allowed no walks in his first start of the season.

- Chase Smith went 4-for-6 with a home run, a double, and two RBI in the second contest.

- Zach Gettys got the start in game two, striking out seven on the day. 

- Drew Sassman went 3-for-6 drove in a team-high three runs in the nightcap.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions wrap up their weekend series at Ferrum with another doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

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