Harrison Lilley

Photo Editor

hjl5363@psu.edu

Steubenville, OH – The Penn State Behrend Baseball team quickly dominated the field at their doubleheader contest against Franciscan on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

Game One

During the first game, Behrend took the advantage with a 14-1 final score, where Behrend scored eight runs on six hits to start off the game on the right foot. Several highlights in the game contributed to this accomplishment. This game improved Behrend’s season record to 9-3.

Mac Ciocco, of Venetia, PA, was the first one to score with an RBI double, and then RBI singles came next by Thomas Nicely, of Delmont, PA, David Gibson, of North East, PA, and Dylan Barnes, of Pittsburgh, PA.

The top of the first inning was topped off by an RBI triple off by Anthony State, of Hopewell, PA.

Behrend was able to pull off three home runs during the top of the fourth inning due to an RBI single and a two run double by Barnes. During the top of the sixth inning, Silvio Ionadi, of Pittsburgh, PA, was able to accomplish a home run with a double.

Franciscan answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Behrend was still able to maintain their prowess,, as Freshman Trent Burchanowski, of Clymer, NY, topped off Vegrebd’s scoring, and contributed both the 13th and 14th run of the game, where he also accomplished his first career RBIs.

Ciocco went for a 3-for-4 at home plate, and Slate and Ionadi were also able to accomplish a pair of hits each. In addition, Slate and Barnes drove in a record and game high three runs, further contributing to the accomplishments of the team.

Freshman pitcher Colin Bolla, of Fairview, PA, was able to contribute four stout innings, where he also was able to surrender two walks, and three hits with seven strikeouts.

Relievers Nathan Campbell, of Wexford, PA, and Evan Del Signore, of Trafford, PA, each threw one scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Game Two

Behrend pulled off their second remarkable finish of the day with a score of 25-3, which improved their record to 10-3 for the season.

The first two innings brought an explosive performance for the Lions, as five home runs were scored when they were not even 25% into the game. Furthermore, RBI doubles from Ciocco and Gibson were able to log a 2-0 Behrend Advantage in the top of the first inning.

The first five scores were contributed by a two-run double from Ciocco, and this extra-base base hit marked Ciocco’s 100th career hit.

Chase Palmer, of Brookville, PA, hit a two-run single in addition to a Barons error, which made Behrend be able to score 7 runs in the 5th inning of the game. The action did not stop there, as Behrend scored ten more runs in just ten hits, in the next two innings of the game to extend the lead to 17-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Franciscan was able to get three runs in, but Behrend quickly responded with eight more home runs, resulting in a 25-3 lead. Will Jamison, of Shaler, PA,  blew through on his second collegiate time at bat, and drove in his first two home runs with a double during the fifth inning. 

To add to Ciocco’s 100th career hit, Ciocco had a career day against the Barons. In one doubleheader, he came to 6-for-7 with three doubles and five runs. 13 Behrend hitters logged a hit, in addition with Ciocco leading the game with three knocks, and an additional four RBIs. Palmer also drove in three RBIs for Behrend.

Sophomore reliever Jack Barumgartel, of Sewickley, PA, tossed two innings with no score, in addition to three strikeouts.

As a whale, Behrend crossed the home plate a total of 19 times, in just 18 hits. This accomplishment led to the second time of the 2024 season where Behrend was able to accomplish 15 or more home runs. Behred last scored 20 or more times during the 2021 season, where they defeated Pitt-Bradford 23-4.