Brandywine Drops Series Opener To Wilkes-Barre

ASTON, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine led 3-1 entering the seventh inning, but Penn State Wilkes-Barre erupted for six runs and defeated the Lions 10-4 in the teams' Penn State University Athletic Conference series opener on Friday night.

Brandywine starting pitcher Tyler Michaels (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) limited the visitors to one unearned run through the first six innings, but a trio of Lion relievers yielded six runs on four hits during the seventh. Michaels, who has fired 22 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, struck out nine batters and allowed just three hits.

Trailing 7-3 in the seventh inning, Brandywine got one run back when Joey Buoni (Chester Springs, Pa./Salesianum) recorded a run-scoring single, but Wilkes-Barre added three more runs during its next two at-bats to secure the victory.

The Lions owned a 2-0 edge after one inning as Brian Reynolds (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) delivered a two-out, two-run single.

Wilkes-Barre cut its deficit in half in the second, but Brandywine pushed the margin back to two runs when Hayden Altimari (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Anthony's Prep) walked with the bases loaded, forcing in Buoni with Brandywine's third run.

Buoni and Nick Kutufaris (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) both tallied two hits for the Lions, who collected eight knocks overall.

Brandywine (9-9, 1-3 PSUAC) and Wilkes-Barre finish the three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon beginning at 2:00 pm.