The Keuka College Baseball team swept their doubleheader on Saturday at Penn State Scranton to win the season-opening four-game series.
Keuka College (3-1) shutout Scranton 5-0 in game one of the doubleheader. It then took nine innings, but the Wolves prevailed 8-7 in the nightcap.
Keuka College 5 at Penn State Scranton 0 – Game 1
It took just two batters for Keuka to take the lead in game one. Tyler Lewandowski (Milltown, N.J. / Spotswood) was hit by the pitch to lead off the game. He then moved to third on an errant pickoff throw. Lewandowski scored on a single by Kyle Wood (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) as the Wolves took the lead.
Keuka added to its lead in the fifth inning. Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) led off with a single. Later with two outs, Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) brought him home with a two-run home run as the Wolves led 3-0.
That was more than enough for starting pitcher Keegan Ferris (Elbridge, N.Y. / Jordan Elbridge). The senior went the distance for the Wolves. He allowed just four hits while striking out a career-best six batters.
The Wolves added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh to defeat the Nittany Lions 5-0.
Keuka College 8 at Penn State Scranton 7 – Game 2 (9 innings)
The Wolves continued their streak of scoring in the first inning in game two as John Valinoti (Babylon, N.Y. / Babylon) had the big hit for Keuka College. His single scored two runs for the early lead. However, Penn State Scranton would match the two runs in the bottom of the first and take the lead with a run in the second.
The advantage did not last as the Wolves plated two in the third. Kyle Wood scored on a Derek Novicki sacrifice fly. Carlos Fantauzzi (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) then scored on a groundout by Valinoti as the Wolves led 4-3.
Scranton scored three in the fifth to take the lead, but Keuka responded with two runs without a hit in the sixth to tie the game. The game would go into extra innings.
Neither team scored in the eighth. In the ninth, the Wolves put together a two-out rally. A pair of walks preceded a single through the left side of the infield by Alex Solema (Wintersville, Ohio / Steubenville Catholic Central) to score one and give Keuka the lead. The Wolves added a run on a wild pitch to take a two-run lead, 8-6 into the bottom of the ninth.
Penn State Scranton got the tying run on base in the bottom of the inning. DJ Bruni (Seneca Falls, N.Y. / Mynderse Academy) got a strikeout, but a single made it a one-run game. With the tying run on second base and winning run on first, Bruni got a strikeout to end the game as the Wolves won game two 8-7 to sweep the doubleheader.
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will look to play close to home before embarking on their annual spring trip. Keuka College will next be in action on Wednesday, March 12 as the Wolves host Fredonia State. The nine-inning game will be played at Finger Lakes Community College.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
