BASEBALL: One big inning enables State College to defeat Chambersburg, 4-1

SCOTLAND >> Austin Suders finished a Mid Penn Commonwealth Division baseball game Thursday afternoon by retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

Unfortunately, earlier in the inning that the Chambersburg right-hander began that streak, State College scored four runs, three of which were unearned. And the Little Lions made that stand up for a 4-1 victory at Greene Township Park.

"I changed my grip on my fastball and curveball; they weren't working well," Suders said. "I started controlling both pitches a little better."

By that time the damage was done, and with the Trojans' offense not doing much, the four-run outburst by State College (2-1, 2-1 MPC) was enough of a cushion.

"They shouldn't have had as many runs as they got that inning," Chambersburg coach Bob Thomas said.

Leadoff batter Caleb Walls started the rally by fouling off three pitches with two strikes and drawing a nine-pitch walk. Suders then misfired on a curve that plunked Greg Copenhaver. Chris Adams then drove a single into center to load the bases with no outs.

A grounder to shortstop by Sam Plafcan was thrown away at first base, resulting in one run scoring. After a strikeout, Chris Boal hit another grounder just to the shortstop side of second base. Carlin Christian gloved it and had time to step on second and throw to first to end the inning. But his momentum carried him beyond the base and it was too late to flip to second baseman Drew Betz, so all he could get was an out at first and the second run scored.

Thomas said, "That was a tough play to make. He was already by the bag when he fielded it and he crossed too far, and he didn't know if he should try to flip it or not."

Tyler Hall then dumped a single into leftfield to score runs three and four.

"I started them off with a walk and hit batter," Suders said, "and then they took advantage of it."

The Trojans (2-2, 1-2 MPC) could not take advantage of the chances they had, stranding eight runners, including five in scoring position.

Little Lion starter Bailey Ishler went four innings, giving up three hits and no runs, then Oliver Dailey threw the final three, allowing no hits and an unearned run.

State College coach Bill Tussey said, "Bailey did a nice job, although he was a little ragged in spots. Ollie was a little wild at first but he got through it, so I was pleased with the pitching."

Chambersburg put two on in the first inning on hits by Manning Brookens and Christian, and had runners on second and third in the third after a base hit by Bryce Fiegl, a walk to Matt Stonesifer and a balk. But the next batters made outs on a three-foot dribbler and a strikeout looking.

In the fourth, Ishler started running out of gas and walked two with two outs, but got out of it.

In the fifth, Dailey walked two of the first three batters he faced, Trent Ebersole and Brookens. Courtesy runner Johnnie Myers scored on an error by the Little Lions, but a double play ended the threat.

Thomas said, "We didn't strike out as much today (twice), but we didn't hit the ball well. We left a lot of guys on and didn't get a hit when we needed it. Yesterday, hitting the first pitch worked, but today, their guys had a little better velocity and it didn't work so well."

Suders was touched for six hits, but his only walk and only hit batter both scored. He allowed only one baserunner in the final four innings.

"The offense is always a work in progress this time of year, but that's baseball in the north," Tussey said. "Early in the season, hitters haven't had very many reps in game situations. They've been in cages, but that's not the same. Guys are taking pitches now that they'll hit later – and it's that way for both teams."

State College 4, Chambersburg 1

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