5-2 box 17-16box
ALTOONA, PA – Playing in their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference double header on the road, the Hilbert College men’s baseball team lost 5-2 to Altoona before the Hawks surrendered a big lead in the second game to drop a 17-16 contest and go 0-2. Chris Hoak led the Hawks with five RBIs for the day as Hilbert moves to 4-12 overall and 1-5 in conference. Altoona improves to 8-13, 4-2.
The second game of the day was the exciting, high scoring bill as Altoona opened with a 7-0 lead through the first two innings. Hilbert responded over the course of the next three innings, taking a 15-7 lead into the top of the sixth.
Joe Pernick lead off with a single RBI to get Hilbert on the board in the 3rd and Hoak followed up with his first RBI, in an inning that was filled with Altoona fielding and throwing errors along with wild pitches that allowed the Hawks to score runs. Both Pernick and Hoak were credited again with RBI’s in the 4th and 5th as well as Chris Parrott (2 RBI) and Matt Staub (1RBI) which gave the Hawks the big lead heading into the top of the sixth inning. Jim Pernick’s single through the right side sent Matt Militello home and gave Hilbert a 16-7 advantage before Altoona had their turn at the plate.
Altoona went on a wild rally in the bottom of the inning scoring nine runs to tie the game at 16 all. Hilbert committed only one fielding error, but were credited with several wild pitches, a balk and made two pitching changes in the inning. The Lions finished with eight hits and seven RBIs.
The Hawks went three up and three down in the top of the 7th only to watch Altoona’s second batter hit a double to center field and advance to third base on a pass ball. Altoona won the game when the next batter hit a single to right field sending the winning run home.
Hilbert was 17 for 42 at the plate with 10 RBI’s and only three strike outs. Altoona was 16 for 35, also had only two walks with only one strike out. Militello was three for four, and Joe Pernick and Hoak each went three for five. Tim Staub and Curt Macysyn each were credited with a stolen base during the afternoon session.
The day started with Altoona slowly building a 3-0 lead after three innings, before Joe Pernick scored off a Hoak single RBI in the top of the fourth. Hilbert held Altoona defensively in the bottom of the inning and then tacked another run in the 5th when Hoak’s sacrifice fly drove Derek Mort home, cutting the lead to 3-2.
Altoona had three hits and scored twice in the fifth inning and then held the Hawks scoreless their next two at bats to close the game out at 5-2.
Joe Pernick finished the morning game going two for four to lead the Hawks hitting.
Hilbert gets back at it April 1 when they travel to Fredonia (8-10) for a 1pm non-conference contest.