Baseball Opens Season with Doubleheader Sweep of Penn State Berks

Game 1 Recap

Penn State Schuylkill 4, Penn State Berks 3

The Lions opened the season with a hard-fought victory in Game 1, using timely hitting and a strong pitching staff effort to secure a 4–3 win.

Schuylkill struck first in the second inning when Owen Shoop delivered an RBI single to center field that brought home Joey Ruggiero. Moments later, Andrew Klotz followed with a run-scoring single to plate Dan Zimmerman, giving the Lions an early 2–0 advantage.

Penn State Berks answered in the fifth inning when Michael DeRichie lined a two-run double to left field, tying the game at 2–2. The Lions quickly regained the lead in the sixth inning after Shawn Pallay came off the bench and delivered a clutch RBI single to score Yostin Guerrero Solano and put Schuylkill back on top.

Berks managed to tie the game again in the seventh, but the Lions responded immediately in the bottom half. Conner Licklider led the inning with a hit and eventually came around to score on Joey Ruggiero's line-drive single to center field, sealing the walk-off victory.

Game 1 Highlights

Joey Ruggiero: 2-for-4, RBI, game-winning hit

Conner Licklider: 2-for-4, run scored

Owen Shoop: 2-for-3, RBI at the plate; 4 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts on the mound

Andrew Klotz: RBI single

Shawn Pallay: Pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth

The Lions collected 12 hits in the opener, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.

Game 2 Recap

Penn State Schuylkill 10, Penn State Berks 3

Schuylkill carried its momentum into Game 2, breaking the game open early and cruising to a 10–3 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Penn State Berks jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score two runs. However, the Lions responded immediately in the bottom of the inning with a four-run rally.

Dan Zimmerman provided the biggest moment of the inning, blasting a bases-clearing triple to center field that scored Andrew Klotz, Roman Cieless, and Joey Ruggiero. Charles Hopper later added another run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Schuylkill a 4–2 lead.

The Lions continued to apply pressure offensively. Roman Cieless launched a solo home run in the fifth inning, and Owen Shoop followed later in the frame with a two-run single to extend the lead. Schuylkill added three more runs in the sixth inning, including an RBI single from Blake Deiter, to put the game out of reach.

On the mound, Tyler Shuey settled in after the first inning and earned the win with four innings of work. Braden Collazo dominated in relief, striking out five over three innings while allowing just one hit to close out the victory.

Game 2 Highlights

Dan Zimmerman: 4-for-4, 3 RBIs, triple

Roman Cieless: Home run, 2 RBIs, 3 runs scored

Owen Shoop: 2 RBIs

Blake Deiter: RBI single

Charles Hopper: RBI via hit-by-pitch

Pitching Highlights

Tyler Shuey: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (1 ER), win

Braden Collazo: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 5 strikeouts, scoreless relief

The Lions combined for 22 hits across the doubleheader, showcasing the depth of a roster that returns several experienced players while integrating newcomers who made immediate contributions.

Penn State Schuylkill will now head south for its annual Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the Lions will return to action on Saturday against Penn State Beaver.