Baseball Sweeps Penn State Scranton

DUNMORE, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill Baseball swept PSUAC opponent Penn State Scranton on Thursday.

Game One: Penn State Schuylkill 8, Penn State Scranton 2

Schuylkill opened the scoring as Owen Zimmerman (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School) drove in a run for RayJay Marmolejos (Wyomissing, PA / Wilson High School). Holding a 1-0 lead heading into the top of the second inning, Brenan Adams' (Pottsville, PA / Pottsville Area High School) single was followed by a home run by Kyle Kaminski (Lodi, NJ / Saint Mary High School), extending Schuylkill's lead to 3-0. Schuylkill kept the momentum going as Ethan Naftzinger (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) singled on the next play. Two consecutive groundouts brought in another run for Schuylkill. They added their final run of the inning as Zimmerman singled in Conner Licklider (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) and Jared Sterner (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School). Scranton scored their first run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.

A single by Marmolejos in the top of the fourth advanced Pedro Rosario (Reading, PA / Wyomissing Area High School) to second base. A double by Zimmerman brought both runners home, extending Schuylkill's lead to 8-1. Scranton scored their final run of the contest with a single in the bottom of the fifth.

Zimmerman finished 2-4 at bat with a double and 5 RBIs. Also hitting doubles for Schuylkill were Marmolejos and Rosario. Kaminski's home run gave him two RBIs in the first contest. Owen Shoop (Tower City, PA / Williams Valley High School) won his matchup on the mound, going the distance while striking out six.

Game Two: Penn State Schuylkill 12, Penn State Scranton 2

Marmolejos singled and stole second base to start the first inning. Zimmerman followed with a double, scoring Schuylkill's first run of the game. Zimmerman advanced to third on an error and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nate Gilbert (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School).

In the top of the second, Kaminski walked, followed by consecutive singles by Naftzinger and Shoop, loading the bases for Schuylkill. Rosario reached first base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error, resulting in two runs for Schuylkill.

Marmolejos singled and stole second base, putting Schuylkill in scoring position once again. Zimmerman then hit his second double of the game, extending Schuylkill's lead to 6-0 heading into the third inning. Adams walked and stole second base in the top of the third, then scored on an error.

In the fourth inning, Licklider singled and stole second base before scoring on a double by Zimmerman. Scranton responded in the bottom of the fifth with a single and a sacrifice fly. Schuylkill added four more runs in the second inning after Gilbert and Naftzinger each drove in two runs.

Zimmerman finished a perfect 3-3 with three doubles and three RBIs. Marmolejos and Naftzinger each finished 3-4 while Naftzinger added two RBIs. Zimmerman also won his pitching matchup, pitching in 4.1 innings and striking out five.

Schuylkill will return to action on Friday as they host Penn State Scranton in what will be the final meeting between the two.