LATHAM, N.Y. - The Keystone College Giants swept Volt Division Champs, Penn State Harrisburg in a best-of-three series (2-0) to win the United East Baseball Championship, giving the Giants their 19th straight conference Championship. The Giants earned the automatic qualifier for the 2024 Division III NCAA Baseball Championships.

To start the afternoon, The Giants outlasted Harrisburg in game one of the best-of-three series, 5-4. The Giants carried the momentum to game two to sweep the series with an 8-3 victory. 

Tournament MVP: Chase Boyle, Keystone College 
Elite 20 Award: Fisher Druck, Penn State Harrisburg

GAME 1: Keystone def. Penn State Harrisburg - 5-4

In game one of the series, the Giants put the first two runs on the board in the third inning with Robert Estrada two-RBI single to center field. Chase Boyle joined the party in the fourth inning giving the Giants another run with an RBI double to center field, scoring Andy Rivas. Lead off, Bobby Pokorney singled for yet another run in the fourth. Pokorney stole home to give the Giants a 5-0 lead over Harrisburg. 

The sixth inning marked the run for the Lions as they got on the board with two back-to-back walks from Brendan Henn and Drew Sassaman with bases loaded. Harrisburg carried the momentum through the top of the seventh, cutting the lead 3-5 with an RBI single to the left by Dallas Hite. The Lions made one final push in the eighth, registering one more run to trim the lead. Keystone ultimately outlasted the Lions, 5-4 as they took game one.

For the Giants, six batters registered at least one hit, as Bobby Pokorney led the Giants with two hits and two runs going 2-for-4 from the plate. Robert Estrada also had a game with two RBIs in the contest. Brayan Villar kept his perfect record alive on the bump, recording another win (8th), while dishing out six Ks. Drew Sorrentio recorded a save in the ninth to secure the win for the Giants.

GAME 2: Keystone def. Penn State Harrisburg - 8-3

The Giants erupted in the second inning for four runs to outlast the Lions for the game-two sweep over Harrisburg. The second basemen, Nate Ewing recorded the first RBI of the contest with a single through the left side. Three additional Giants drove one in to extend the lead, 4-0 in the second. 

In the fifth inning, Darren Hagan doubled left field to give himself an RBI single. The Giants went on to match the Lions with a run a piece in the eighth and ninth innings to give the Giants the 8-3 win over the Lions. 

For the Giants, eight batters recorded a hit. Tournament MVP, Chase Boyle recorded two hits. Nate Ewing added three hits and two RBIs. Brayan Villar picked up his eighth win on the bump tossing out six strikeouts. Drew Sorrentio earned another save on the day in the 8-3 Giants victory.

The 2024 NCAA Baseball selection show will kick off on Monday, May 13 at noon as the Giants will wait to see who they’ll face off with in round one of the tournament. Competition for the tournament will begin on Friday, May 17.