LANGHORNE, PA- The Keystone College Baseball team outlasted the Highlanders of Cairn University in the final United East doubleheader of the season in game one, 5-3, after a marathon of a game that saw 13 innings played. The Giants regrouped in game two, destroying the Highlanders to finish their Conference play undefeated, clinching the one seed in the playoffs.
Game One: (Keystone 5, Cairn 3) (13 Innings)
The Giants and the Highlanders went toe-for-toe in the first game of the late season double header, with Cairn nearly upsetting the Giants and playing spoiler to close our their season. Keystone held on for a narrow victory in a 13 inning marathon that saw Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) play hero ball once more this season.
The Giants added their first two runs of the contest in the second inning of play, when Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Ethan Schimony (State College, Pa./State College Area). Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) scored on an errant throw attempt to pick-off the speedy Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman), stealing second base. Bennett crossed home plate to push the KC lead to two. Keystone tacked on an insurance run in the fourth inning when Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) singled to left field, scoring Emilio Portes (Miami, Fla./Monsignor Pace).
The Highlanders did not stay quiet for much longer though, as the home team attempted to play spoiler baseball late in the year. Cairn added third first run of three in the sixth inning, cutting the Giants lead to two. The seventh inning of play saw the Highlanders knot the game up at three, which neither team was able to break, forcing the game into extra innings.
Neither team was able to regain the lead until the 13th inning when Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) called game with a single to right field. Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International)and Erick Castro (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) both crossed home plate on the hit. The Giants star pitcher, Cooper Ryan (State College, Pa./State College Area), was able to tame the Highlanders attempts at any kind of comeback, with the Giants staying perfect in United East Conferene play heading into game two of the double header.
Game Two: (Keystone 11, Cairn 0) (7 Innings)
Keystone closed out the day in dominant fashion with an 11-0 win over Cairn in Game 2 on Friday afternoon.The Giants wasted no time getting on the board, as Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International) tripled to open the game and later scored on an RBI groundout from Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) to give Keystone an early 1-0 lead. They added another run in the second inning before breaking things open in the third.
Keystone plated four runs in the third, capitalizing on timely hitting and defensive miscues to extend the lead to 6-0. Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur) delivered an RBI single in the inning, while Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) drove in two runs as the offense continued to apply pressure.
The momentum carried into the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by a pair of home runs from Dante Ruby (Archbald, Pa./Valley View). His first came in the fourth inning, a solo shot to left, and he followed it up in the fifth with a two-run blast to push the lead to double digits.
The Giants finished with 13 hits on the day, with multiple players contributing strong performances. Ruby led the way with three hits and five RBIs, while Pascual scored three times and added a triple and a double. Hess also drove in two runs, and Bird added a pair of RBIs.
On the mound, Michael Lynch (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee) earned the win with five shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out two. He was backed up by Aidan Kee (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) and Ethan Pollack (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights), who combined to preserve the shutout over the final innings.
