MONACA, PA—The Houghton Highlanders six game win streak came to an end at the hands of the Penn State-Beaver Nittany Lions.  While the Highlanders dropped the first game, 11-5, they salvaged a split, winning the nightcap, 8-6.
 
Game 1: After retiring the Highlanders in order in the top of the first, the Lions scored four runs on one hit in the bottom half of the inning thanks to four consecutive walks and an error.
 
The Lions quickly added a fifth run in the second.
 
In the top of the third the Highlanders stormed back, stringing together three consecutive two-out hits before Taylor Huntsman (Niagara Falls, NY, Niagara Falls) walked, Ethan Duryea (Concord, OH, Cornerstone Christian) reached on an error and Jens Omdal (Olympia, WA, River Ridge) sent a scorching line drive into the left-center gap for a two RBI double, knotting the game, 5-5.
 
The game would not remain tied for long.  In the bottom of the fourth the Lions put together three hit consecutive hits of their own, plating the go-ahead run.  After a one-out walk loaded the bases Jake Debo sent a long fly ball over the left field fence to put the Lions back up by five.
 
After the Lions plated another run in the sixth, the Highlanders began to rally in the final frame.  With the bases loaded and two outs Duryea crushed a full-count fastball over centerfielder Duncan Miklos' head.  Miklos raced back and to his left, over a ditch and up an embankment before laying out full-extension to end the game on an amazing grab.
 
Game 2: Houghton came out with a vengeance in the second game, racking up five runs on six hits—including back-to-back doubles by Duryea and Omdal—and two stolen bases in the first inning.
 
Highlander starter Victor Cavalieri (Rochester, NY, Northstar Christian) posted a scoreless first but hit some trouble in the second, walking the first two batters, then giving up a bloop single, and hit batter, an RBI walk and a sacrifice fly. 
 
Houghton produced another run in the third on two hits a sacrifice and a sac fly by Jacob Hayes (Homer, NY, Homer), putting the Highlanders up 6-3.
 
After Cavalieri walked the leadoff man and gave up a hard-hit single to left the Highlanders called on reliever Robert Schmidt (Lima, NY, Lima Christian ) for the second time in the day.  Schmidt—who allowed only one run over two innings in the first game without giving up a hit—walked the first batter he faced before inducing a 6-4-3 double play and a fly out to second.
 
Schmidt would give up only one hit over four innings of work, striking out two and picking up the win.  For the day, Schmidt pitched six innings, allowing only one hit, two walks and struck out four batters.
 
Houghton added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth before handing the ball off to Lucas Cornell, who picked up his second save of the season.
 
The Highlanders outhit the Lions, 12-6, on the game.  Houghton also stole seven bases.
 
Knapp, Joseph Gilligan (Ringwood, NJ, Lakeland Regional), Bryan Hodge (Thornton, CO, Community Christian) and Duryea all collected two hits apiece for the Highlanders and John Zamites (Olean, NY, Olean) stole three bases.
 
Six players posted one hit apiece for Penn State-Beaver.
 
Houghton returns to action on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. when they take on the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford on the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex.