READING, Pa. – Junior
Joe Giovinco (Stirling, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) racked up five hits and the Bullets turned their first triple play in seven years, but it wasn't enough as Gettysburg College fell short in a non-conference twinbill at Penn State Berks with the Lions winning both games by scores of 15-10 and 8-1 Saturday afternoon at Hintz Athletic Field.
Gettysburg (7-6) jumped on the board in the opening inning of the doubleheader at Penn State Berks (9-5). Following a walk to freshman
Mark Seibert (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) and a hit-by-pitch to junior
Ryan Augustus (Freehold, N.J./Princeton Day School), Giovinco lofted his first home run of the spring over the fence in right field to spot the Bullets a 3-0 lead.
The Lions answered with 14 runs in their first two at bats, taking advantage of eight hits, four walks, and two hit-by-pitchers. The top two hitters in the lineup – Austin Madeja and Dalton Hughes – each reached base three times with Madeja scoring three times.
Senior
Jonny Bray (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) kept Penn State in check over the final 6.1 innings, retiring 10 consecutive batters after coming into the game in the second inning and finishing with one earned run and five strikeouts. He was helped out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning by a triple play as the Bullets turned two at second and first before throwing across the diamond to get the runner at third base. It was Gettysburg's first triple play since 2012 against Susquehanna University.
Giovinco finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Sophomore
Eric Raio (West Caldwell, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) also posted three hits and scored two runs.
In game two, Lion pitcher Jamie Glass kept the Gettysburg lineup quiet by scattering eight hits over eight innings and striking out seven. The hosts spotted the pitcher a lead with six runs in the third and the Bullets were only able to reclaim one run on a single to center field by sophomore
Sean Murphy (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) in the fourth.
Giovinco was the lone Bullet to reach base safely twice via hits and finished 2-for-4.
Gettysburg hosts Gwynedd-Mercy University for a doubleheader on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
