Baseball Splits With Penn State Beaver On The Road

March 20, 2025 - - The Lorain County Community College baseball team split a doubleheader with Penn State Beaver on Wednesday afternoon, winning the first game with a dramatic 14-13 victory in a back-and-forth offensive showdown, before losing in the second game, 7-3.

Game 1:

The Commodores wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first game, capitalizing on defensive miscues to jump out to an early lead against PSB. Jacob Sanders (Columbia Station, Ohio/Columbia HS) and Travis Gentry (Huntsville, Alabama/Huntsville HS) both scored in the first inning thanks to errors by Penn State.

The offense started to get going in the second, as Joey Kulwicki (Grafton, Ohio/Midview HS) drew a leadoff walk and later scored when Colin McCrone (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood HS) reached on an error. Jadon Tucker (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown Madison HS), who reached base with a bunt single, came around to score on a Gentry RBI single, extending LCCC's advantage.

Penn State responded quickly, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to 6-5. However, the Commodores kept their foot on the gas, adding two more in the third when Luke Decker (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) and Kulwicki both scored on a Sanders single to center field.

LCCC seemed to take control in the fourth inning, plating four runs to stretch the lead to 10-5. Gentry kicked off the rally with a double and later scored on a bases-loaded walk. Nick Schuster (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria HS) added another run on a sacrifice bunt before Kian Ortiz (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview HS) and Decker came home on a Tucker double to right field.

Despite the comfortable lead, Penn State stormed back with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth, flipping the score to 11-10 in their favor. Unfazed, the Commodores struck right back in the sixth. Decker tied the game with an RBI double to right, scoring Schuster. Moments later, Tucker delivered again, tripling home Decker to push LCCC back in front, 12-11.

Penn State refused to go quietly, regaining the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. But in the top of the seventh, Jackson Frame (Newcastle, Australia/Callaghan HS) delivered the decisive blow. McCrone led off with a single and advanced to third on a Gentry double, setting the stage for Frame's clutch RBI hit to put the Commodores on top for good.

With a 13-12 lead, LCCC turned to Kulwicki in the bottom of the seventh to close the door. The reliever delivered in dominant fashion, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts to secure LCCC's first victory as well as his first save of the season.

Schuster got the start for the Commodores but lasted just two innings before giving way to Yaniel Valentin (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS), who pitched two innings of relief. ReDon Jones III (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian HS) and Frame also contributed innings before Kulwicki shut the door in the seventh.  Frame earned the win.

Gentry led the offensive charge, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Tucker also had a standout performance, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a triple. Decker contributed by scoring three times and driving in two runs.

Overall, LCCC tallied 12 hits while drawing six walks and striking out just four times.

Game 2

LCCC found themselves trailing in the second contest after Penn State finally broke through against starting pitcher Yannick Kiss (Bad Homburg, Germany      Phillip-Reis Schule) in the third inning, scoring four runs. However, the Commodores refused to back down. They responded with three runs in the top of the fourth, starting with  Decker's one-out single to left field that brought home Gentry. Frame followed with a run on a Tucker single, and Decker eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Unfortunately, that would be the end of LCCC's offensive production. Penn State added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead before LCCC went back to Kulwicki. The sophomore turned in a strong performance, striking out four batters while allowing just one hit.

Next Up:

The Commodores will host Community Christian College for a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. at The Pipe Yard in Lorain, Ohio.