By: Keystone Sports Information
LA PLUME, Pa.- The Keystone College baseball team will host Penn State Harrisburg in the 2024 United East Conference Championship Series.
The best two-out-of-three series will begin on Saturday, May 11 at 12 and 3 p.m. If necessary, game three will be played on Sunday, May 12 to decide the champion.
Keystone
The Keystone College Giants are looking to capture their 19th straight conference championship in program history and first as members of the United East Conference.
The Giants are ranked in the top-25 in a few statistical categories among all Division III such as 12th in doubles per game (2.50), 16th in batting average (.333), 17th in scoring (389 runs; 9.3 runs per game), and 23rd in on base percentage (.431).
Throughout the Skye Division Tournament, the Giants outscored their opponents 42-10 as they defeated Rosemont 23-4 on Friday followed by an 11-4 victory over Wilson College on Saturday. Keystone took down Cairn 8-2 in the Skye Division Final on Monday to advance to the United East Conference Championship.
Some key arms from the Giants pitching staff include junior right-handed pitcher Sean Brennan (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn). Brennan is 6-2 and posts a 2.82 ERA. He has struck out a conference leading 81 batters. He was named United East Skye Division Pitcher of the Week twice this season. Brayan Villar (West Orange, N.J./Belleville) is 7-0 on the year and holds a 3.75 ERA with 47 strikeouts. He earned United East Pitcher of the Week on Apr. 15.
At the plate, Darren Hagan (Aston, Pa./Garnet Valley) has been a shining spot in the starting nine. He posts a .418 batting average with six home runs and 40 RBI. Jacob Yager (Grahamsville, N.Y./Tri-Valley) is currently hitting .400 with six home runs and 42 RBI. Yager was awarded Skye Division Player of the Week three times this season.
Penn State Harrisburg
The No. 11/12 Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions are currently 34-7 this season and went undefeated in United East Volt Division play with a 15-0 record. They are currently riding a 15-game winning streak.
The Lions rank top-10 in the nation in a number of statistical categories, including hits allowed per nine innings (7.43), ERA (3.16), win-loss percentage (.829), WHIP (1.26), shutouts (6), and walks (246).
 The squad is looking for its third consecutive United East Conference Title (fifth conference championship overall). Harrisburg captured the Volt Division Title on Monday as they knocked off St. Mary's College of Maryland, 10-2.
Carlos Irizarry has been a major part of the Nittany Lions offense as he holds a .364 batting average with seven home runs and a team high 53 RBI. Brendan Henn has a .380 batting average with five home runs and 31 RBI.
On the pitching side, reliever Josh Berzonski has been dealing this season. The sophomore southpaw has a 0.92 ERA with 56 strikeouts against 10 walks with four saves. Danny Eden possesses a 2.22 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 11 appearances with nine starts. Kyle Mahady and Fisher Druck have been key arms for the Lions starting rotation.
Previous Matchup
Both Keystone and Harrisburg squared off in a doubleheader during the regular season back on Apr. 6. The Nittany Lions swept the Giants by scores of 10-3 and 8-4.
