ALBANY, NY – Penn State Harrisburg pushed Randolph-Macon College to their limit, forcing a Game 7 in the NCAA Division III Albany Regional, but the Lions fell 3-0 in the Regional Championship game.

Harrisburg needed to win two games to capture the regional title, and they got on the board in the third inning when Time Haftl reached on an error, allowing Demetre Koutras III to score and tie the game at one. The Yellow Jackets responded with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead.

The Lions fought back in the fourth inning. Nathan Lapp sparked the team by blasting a solo home run over the left-field wall. Blaine Waltimyer kept the offense rolling with a two-run home run to center field. Later in the inning, Chris Catania singled up the middle, bringing home Koutras III to level the score at five.

After the Yellow Jackets scored in the fifth inning, Harrisburg mounted another rally in the sixth. The Lions loaded the bases before Lapp was hit by a pitch, bringing home the tying run. James Quici then worked an RBI walk to put Harrisburg ahead for the first time. Coy Schwanger followed with a single through the right side, driving in two more runs to give Harrisburg a 9-6 advantage.

In the ninth inning, Alexander Ruiz and Quici each drove in a run to push Harrisburg’s lead to six. Randolph-Macon attempted a late rally with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Harrisburg’s Cade Baker shut the door to secure the victory.

Harrisburg forced a deciding Game 7, but the Lions trailed 3-0 early after the Yellow Jackets scored in each of the first two innings. Harrisburg’s pitching staff settled in, holding Randolph-Macon to just four hits the rest of the way.

The Lions recorded a hit in every inning down the stretch but could not string enough together to break through offensively. Their best scoring opportunity came in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases, but Harrisburg was unable to capitalize and eventually fell 3-0.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
Instagram - gounitedeast  |  Twitter - @GoUnitedEast 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.