GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Baseball team picked up their third-straight win tonight with a 3-2 victory over the Atlantic Region's 5th ranked team, Mercyhurst. This was GSU's opening game in the Pioneer Classic.
GSU 3 | Mercyhurst 2
Diego Tamariz found himself in a 1st inning jam with the bases loaded and a 3-1 count. Tamariz battled back, blowing two fastballs by Zac Kourous to get out of the inning unscathed. Zach Morris opened up the offense with a one-out single, followed by Fabian Escalante dropping one down the left field line to put runners at second and third. A wild pitch allowed Morris to get home, giving GSU an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Pioneers once again put runners at second and third with one out. This time, the Lakers were able to get out of the jam. Mercyhurst got on the board in the top of 4th on a throwing error by the Pioneer defense to tie it up at one all before taking the lead on a sac fly to right. Just like the 1st inning, a wild pitch allowed the Pioneers to put another run up on the board in the bottom half of the 4th. Glenville State then loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with nobody out, leaving them all stranded following two strikeouts and a ground out to second.
The tie would be broke in the bottom of the 7th when Carlos De Jesus got around on an inside breaking ball, sending it over the left field fence to put the blue and white back up by a run. As the night neared its end, Grant Landis was called on to shut the door on the Lakers. With the bases juiced for Mercyhurst in the top of the ninth, Landis secured an infield fly and blew a fastball by the Lakers last batter to wrap up the 3-2 victory.
Box Score
Fabian Escalante continued his hot start to the season, going 2-3 with two walks to lead the Pioneers. Carlos De Jesus' solo home run was the only RBI of the night for GSU. In total, the blue and white drew 11 walks as a team. Diego Tamariz went 3.2 innings, striking out five with an earned run. Julian Minaya picked up the win following 4.2 innings of one-hit ball while striking out eight. Grant Landis recorded his first save of the year.
Luke Jackson had the lone RBI for Mercyhurst. The Lakers sent out four pitchers to the mound with Mat Delvaux being hit with the loss after coming in for relief, going two innings and allowing an earned run on one hit and four walks.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers will have the first game of the day tomorrow (Feb. 24), facing the No. 7 team in the country, Millersville at 11 a.m.
