RECORDS: Marygrove College (7-37) | Penn State Mont Alto (14-23-1)
LOCATION: East Field Park – Glens Falls, NY
IN BRIEF: After going into the final inning leading 9-1, it appeared that Marygrove College would breeze toward an opening round win against PSUAC Conference Champion Penn State Mont Alto. The Lions provided a thrill in the bottom of the ninth, however, scoring six runs before the first out was recorded. Still, Marygrove ended the rally quickly by way of a player caught stealing, a strikeout, and a pop-out to first base, winning the game by score of 9-7.
HOW THEY SCORED: In the top of the first, Raleigh Wilson led off the inning with a single. Antonio Carta was hit by a pitch before senior Juan Ventura hit a two RBI double to score both runners. With two outs, Ernesto Carrillo singled to drive in Ventura.
The Mustangs added two runs in the third inning. Following a walk by Carta, Travis Tarrence hit a two out double to score the first run. Tarrance later scored on a wild pitch. They would add another run in the top of the fourth behind a Jacob Rodgers single and Chase Turner double.
Mont Alto would score their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Lowell Singer singled before reaching second on an errant throw by the pitcher. Brandt Schwart, who pinch ran for Singer, scored an unearned run on two wild pitches.
Marygrove scored what seemed like three insurance runs in the top of the seventh behind a walk, hit by pitch, Ventura two-RBI double, and Tarrance ground out that scored Ventura. However, they would become what were the winning runs after the Lions rallied in the seventh scoring six runs on hits by Colby Black, Matt Taylor, and Jeremiah Younker.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE: Marygrove pitcher Daniel Bailey went the first six innings of the game allowing only five hits and no earned runs, walking no batters. In that timespan, the Lions had only one extra base hit and were just 2-11 with runners on base. Despite giving up six runs in the seventh, he made it a complete game outing.
Marygrove manufactured runs throughout the day, going 5-17 (.294) with runners on base and 4-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position. Marygrove proved their worth in the Small College World Series, after a grueling NAIA regular season schedule and slipping into the tournament as the last team in.
NEXT UP: With the win, #10 Marygrove College advances to play #2 College of St. Joseph's Vermont tonight (Monday) at approximately 8 pm (Due to weather delays this morning – originally scheduled for 6:30pm). #7 Penn State Mont Alto will play the loser of the #3 Wright State Lake and #6 Penn State DuBois at 11am on Tuesday.
