La Plume, PA- For the first time since 2023, Penn State Harrisburg has won the United East Baseball Championship, defeating Lancaster Bible by a score of 11-5 in game seven of the tournament.

The Chargers opened the day by overcoming a rain delay to defeat Penn State Harrisburg, 6-3 and force a game seven. The Lions bounced back to win game seven behind the tournament MVP Blaine Waltimyer to secure the title. Waltimyer went 2-5 with three RBIs in the championship game.

Penn State Harrisburg has secured the Automatic Qualifier for the NCAA Tournament, making their sixth consecutive NCAA appearance. 

Game 6 - #4 Lancaster Bible College def. #2 Penn State Harrisburg, 6-3 (Box Score)
Penn State Harrisburg took the early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. After James Quici drew a walk, Blaine Waltimyer blasted a two-run home run to right field. Harrisburg’s offense slowed after the early outburst, being held to five hits over the next seven innings.

Lancaster Bible College answered back in the fifth inning. Tanner Smith drove in the Chargers first run of the day, driving a single up the middle. Dylan Witkowski then put LBC in front, smashing a two-run home run to left center field. The Chargers scored again in the eighth inning. Evan Sareyka launched a double down the right field line, driving in a run in the process. Later in the inning, Donavan Boles lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Sareyka to score.

The game was delayed for an hour due to rain. After the delay, Harrisburg tried to climb back in the game, scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning. Demetre Koutras III lined a double to center field, driving in Coy Schwanger. Harrisburg had runners on the corners, but the Chargers were able to work out of the jam.

LBC added a run in the top of the ninth inning, when Witkowski lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing CJ Peterson to tag up and score. The Chargers led 6-3. Evan Sareyka pitched the final four innings, allowing one run on six hits and secured the victory, forcing a game seven.

The Chargers were led by Witkowski who went 2-3 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 7 - #2 Penn State Harrisburg def.  #4 Lancaster Bible College, 13-5 (Box Score)
Lancaster Bible College capitalize on their momentum from their previous victory, scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Dylan Witkowski hit a solo home run to left center. Penn State Harrisburg leveled the score in the top of the third inning when Blaine Waltimyer lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Nathan Lapp to score.

LBC grabbed control of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Tanner Smith drove a ground ball on the right side of the infield, allowing Logan Grimm to score. Later in the inning, Evan Sareyka blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving the Chargers a 5-1 lead.
Harrisburg started their comeback in the top of the fifth inning. Coy Schwanger drove in Kevin Kingsbury with a triple down the right field line. Waltimyer then brought home Schwanger with a double to left field.

Harrisburg found their rhythm in the top of the seventh inning. Schwanger reached on a throwing error, allowing James Quici to score. Waltimyer then tied the game with a single to left field that brought home Schwanger. Later in the inning, Matthew Johansen lined a two-RBI single to left field, putting Harrisburg ahead 7-5. The Lions then loaded the bases and Kingsbury drew a walk plating a run. Quici then came up for his second at bat of the inning, lifting a sacrifice fly to left field that brought in a ninth run. Schwanger finished off the inning with an RBI single through the left side, giving Harrisburg a 10-5 lead. In the top of the eighth inning, Tim Haftl drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, making the score 11-5.

In the top of the ninth inning, Quici added an insurance run, blasting a solo home run over the right field wall. Later in the inning, Demetre Koutras III singled to drive in Schwanger, making the score 13-5. In the bottom of the inning, Bryant Allison came on pitch for Harrisburg, getting the final three outs to secure the conference championship.

On the mound, Cade Baker earned the win by pitching 6.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Schwanger and Waltimyer each recorded three RBIs in the win.

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