DU BOIS, PA — The Penn State-DuBois Lions pulled off a pair of dramatic, come-from-behind victories over the visiting Houghton Highlanders on Thursday evening, 6-5 and 9-6.  After nine complete innings in the first game Houghton broke a 2-2 tie by pushing three runs across the plate in the top of the 10^th, only to have the Lions score four in the bottom half of the inning.
 
In the second game the Highlanders again led 6-3 after four-and-a-half, but DuBois scored three in the fifth and three more in their final at bat to earn the sweep.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Houghton – 5 | PSU-DuBois – 6 (10 IN)
Game 2 Score: Houghton – 6 | PSU-DuBois – 9
Records: Houghton: 5-8 | PSU-DuBois: 6-6
Venue: Showers Field, DuBois, PA | Attendance: 127/124
 
Game 1:
With the score knotted at two in the top of the tenth, Jeremey Wilcox, who entered the game as a relief pitcher the inning before, doubled off the right field wall.  With two outs and Wilcox still at second base, Dylan Boprey ripped a base hit that gave the Highlanders their first lead of the game, 3-2.  After an error by the Lion's shortstop allowed another run to score, Zach Parr plated another run with an RBI single to center.
 
But the Highlander now leading 6-3 the wheels came off in the bottom of the 10^th.  Two walks, three hit-by-pitch and a fielder's choice, and the Lions trailed by only a run with the bases loaded and only one out.  Senior Daniel Stauffer sliced a single to left, plating the tying run and the throw from left field toward the plate was well off line, allowing the winning run to score.
 
Houghton's Hunter Kendall dominated the first eight innings of the game, allowing only one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out 11 PSUD batters.
 
Ian Slate crushed his first career home run to the deepest part of the park, tying the game, 2-2, in the fifth.
 
Game 2:
Houghton opened the scoring with a three-spot in the top of the second, but DuBois quickly answered in the bottom half with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a three run blast off the bat of Logan Wagner. 
 
The Highlanders struck again in the top of the fourth, capped by a two-out double from Boprey to score Jason Kauffeldt from second.
 
DuBois finally chased Houghton starter Will Tormey in the fifth, using the home field dimensions to their advantage.  Two homers over the short porch in right-center and a double to deep left-center and the game stood tied, 6-6.
 
Houghton went quietly in the top of the sixth, opening the door for the Lions in the bottom half of the inning.  Another three-run homer off the bat of Brett Beith over the 315 sign in right-center and the Lions led by three.
 
The Highlanders stung the ball three times in the top of the seventh, but the Lions made three excellent defensive plays to secure their sixth win of the season.
 
KEY STATS:
>> Phil Schurr finished 4-for-6 with a double on the day, including a perfect 3-for-3 in game two. 
 
>> Zach Parr collected three hits, while Boprey, Kauffeldt and Slate all posted two apiece.  Kauffeldt swiped two more bases and is currently a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases on the season.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"These were exactly the types of games I hoped for when we scheduled this team.  They are very well coached, and have had a lot of success over the past few years.  They play the game the right way—they hustle all the time, they pay attention to detail, and they are a class act.  They did not disappoint. 
 
"Both games were battles.  I am proud of the grit and relentless pursuit of excellence our guys displayed tonight.  Losing two games in this fashion is not easy to swallow, but we will be better for it.  We will choose to use tonight as a learning experience and continue to grow as we enter conference play in a couple of weeks.
 
"Our defense was solid, Hunter [Kendall] had an unbelievable outing, we had timely hitting, and we executed much better—all things we can build on.  We are still learning the nuances of the game, and still trying to figure out a few key situational moves.  We will continue to get better.  I am looking forward to tomorrow." – Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
With rain expected this weekend, the Highlanders will take the weekend off and resume play at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Tuesday at 4:30pm, when they will host cross-county, non-conference rival Alfred-State.