PAIR OF UPSETS MARK DAY 1 OF BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

Hilbert and Penn State Altoona scored major upsets on the opening day of the baseball championship tournament hosted by Alfred State College.

In the opening game, the #5 seeded Hawks took down top seed Alfred State, 8-6, proving their regular season victory over the Pioneers was no fluke.

After falling behind 6-0 through six innings, Hilbert bounced back with two in the seventh and six in the eighth to earn the upset decision.  DH Jack Duffek came through with three RBI and a run scored, while 2B John Riviere-Vejas contributed 2 hits, an RBI and 2 runs scored.  Blaine Morgan got the win, and Brendan Walsh recorded the save.

Alfred State RF Sam Dickerson stepped up with 2 RBI then scored himself to power the Pioneers to their early lead.

#6 Penn State Altoona continued the underdog theme, upending #2 Penn State Behrend 11-9 in Game 2.

The Altoona Lions built a 4-0 lead through the early going then busted out with a five run fifth inning.  Behrend stepped up with back to back four-run innings in the eighth and ninth but it was not enough to escape the deep deficit.

PSA DH Zach Ingold led the way with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate with 4 RBi.  LF Jake Hillard also stood out, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored.  The win went to Eli Wiles while Alex Kitko secured the save.

Behrend 2B Zac Bogats accounted for more than half of his team's runs, going 3 for 6 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Alfred State and Penn State Behrend will face off at 10a Friday in a rare #1 vs. #2 early elimination game.  Hilbert and Penn State Altoona will take the field for an equally unusual 5v6 match up on the winner's side of the bracket.  The winner of the 10a game will meet the loser of the 1p contest at 4p for the second elimination game of the tournament.