Pittsburgh, PA - On Wednesday, Baseball (2-0, 0-0 PAC) faced off against Penn State Greater Allegheny (0-1, 0-0 PSUAC). The Cougars set the single-game run record, winning by a wide margin, 25-3.
After a scoreless top of the 1st, the Cougars would set the tone offensively, scratching across three runs in the bottom half. Matt Brandt and Eddie Rueda got on with a pair of singles. Two batters, Senior Angelo DeLeonardis would single through the right side, and the Cougars were in flight, leading 1-0. Next, Hayden Woodward and Zane Pollack would each collect their first RBIs for the purple and grey. The teams would trade a run each in the second inning and match zeros for the two following innings. In the 5th, the Nittany Lions would get one, cutting the lead in half. The Cougars responded by putting up a 9-spot, putting the game out of reach. Caleb Jones got the ball rolling, leading off with a single and two hit-by-pitches to DeLeonardis and Cooper Baxter, meaning the Cougars had the bases loaded. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch later, Matt Brandt would clear the bases with a double.
Not satisfied, the Cougars would tack on another 4 runs in the 6th, highlighted by a Brandt 2 RBI single, and a Rueda RBI single. The offensive hot streak continued in the 8th as the Cougars added 7 more insurance runs to ensure the lopsided score. Hit-by-pitches to Carter Weaverling and DeLeonardis set up a 2 RBI triple by Baxter. Later in the inning, Sean Kelley earned his first career hit, a 3 RBI double, to cap the historic night.
Offensively, 6 different Cougars recorded multi-hit games. Matt Brandt finished 4-5 with 3 runs scored and a game-high 5 RBIs. Devin Fluhmann set the table with 4 runs scored, Sean Kelley ended with 4 RBIs, and Zane Pollack picked up his first career hit, adding 3 RBIs. Angelo DeLeonardis set the program record with 4 hit-by-pitches in a game, and the Cougars set a team single-game record with 7.
On the mound, sophomore Riley Baum picked up the win, allowing 0 earned runs, scattering 3 hits, picking up 5 strikeouts, over 4 strong innings of work. Garrett Blosser pitched 2 strong innings of work out of the pen, striking out 2. Kevin Bender started his Cougars and collegiate career on a high note, striking out the side in his lone inning of work. Baxter would pitch a scoreless 9th to close out the game.
Baseball continues its home stand on Saturday, February 21, for a doubleheader against Hilbert. The first pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1 pm.
