Game 1: Pitt-Greensburg 5, Penn State Behrend 1
Pitt-Greensburg opened the doubleheader with a strong, complete performance, using a decisive fifth-inning surge and a dominant outing on the mound to earn a 5-1 victory over Penn State Behrend.
The early innings featured a pitcher's duel, with neither side able to break through until the fourth. The Bobcats threatened in the second inning as Josh Preston and Colby Rearick each recorded singles, but Behrend worked out of the jam to keep the game scoreless.
Behrend struck first in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a walk and a stolen base before pushing a run across on a sacrifice bunt to grab a 1-0 lead.
The momentum quickly shifted in the top of the fifth as Pitt-Greensburg delivered its biggest inning of the day. Rearick, Hunter Gideons, and Neo Miller opened the frame with three straight hits to load the bases. William Somers brought home the tying run with a groundout, and James Domer followed with an RBI double to give the Bobcats the lead.
Tommy Smith added an RBI single, and with the bases loaded later in the inning, Jonah Marks and Rearick each drew walks to force in runs, capping a five-run outburst and putting Pitt-Greensburg ahead 5-1.
From there, Conner Burkey took control. The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits and one run while working through traffic with poise, including a key double play in the sixth inning to halt a potential rally.
Rearick and Smith each recorded multi-hit games, while Domer's double highlighted a nine-hit effort for the Bobcats as they set the tone in the opener.
Game 2: Penn State Behrend 10, Pitt-Greensburg 1
In the nightcap, Pitt-Greensburg jumped out early but was unable to contain a mid-game surge from Penn State Behrend, falling 10-1 in the series finale.
The Bobcats answered quickly after surrendering a run in the first inning. In the top of the second, Josh Preston singled and moved into scoring position before Hunter Gideons added a hit to put runners on the corners. Neo Miller then delivered an RBI double to right center, tying the game at 1-1.
Behrend regained the lead in the third with a two-out RBI single, then broke the game open in the fourth inning. A combination of hits, hit batters, and a costly error allowed the Lions to string together a five-run frame, highlighted by a three-run double that pushed the lead to 7-1.
Despite the deficit, Pitt-Greensburg continued to generate chances at the plate. The Bobcats recorded 10 hits in the game, including multi-hit efforts from Preston and Jonah Marks, and put runners on base in several innings. However, they were unable to deliver the timely hit, leaving 12 runners stranded.
Behrend added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings to extend the lead, capitalizing on additional opportunities and defensive miscues.
On the mound, Mason Miller took the loss, while the Bobcats' bullpen provided relief efforts down the stretch. Offensively, Miller's RBI double accounted for Pitt-Greensburg's lone run, while Rearick added an extra-base hit as part of the team's balanced attack.
