2/14/26
 
BEL AIR, Md. – Lackawanna College baseball fell in a pair of games on the road Saturday afternoon, as Harford CC won 13-7 and 13-8 in non-region doubleheader action in Maryland.
 
The Falcons (0-5) twice rallied from early deficits to make a game out of it, only to see the Fighting Owls (3-3) use big sixth innings to push through for the win.
 
In game one, the Owls scored three runs in the first three innings to get ahead. Lackawanna managed to climb back in thanks to an RBI double from Mark Zuppo (Garnet Valley, PA), followed by an RBI single from Kolton Haifley (New Oxford, PA) that made it 3-2, Owls, but Harford hit a three-run blast in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 6-2 advantage into the fifth.
 
Hunter Austra (Larksville, PA) hit a solo homer with two outs in the top of the fifth, then the Falcons scored three more in the top of the sixth. Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA) hit a single with the bases loaded, scoring two runs, and the Owls forced in a run when Austra was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, tying the game at 6-6. The Falcons, unfortunately, couldn't turn it into a major inning, striking out to strand the bases loaded.
 
The wheels came off in the bottom frame. The leadoff batter reached on a walk, stole second, got to third on a wild pitch and then scored on the errant throw. Another walk was followed by an RBI double, then two-straight wild pitches let a third run score to make it 9-6. Another walk put a runner on, then a hit to center ate up the outfielder, and the error scored a run and let the batter reach third. An RBI double, followed by back-to-back RBI singles ripped the game open at 13-6. Quinten Jones (Harrisburg, PA) hit a solo homer with two outs in the seventh to give the Falcons a run, but Harford closed things out for the game one win.
 
Austra was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Jones went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Brown was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Nico Nattle (Phoenixville, PA) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs and four walks, along with four wild pitches, in one inning of relief.
 
In game two, the Owls built a 7-0 lead through the first two innings, and led 9-1 after three innings, before the Falcons started to make some inroads.
 
Jones led the inning off with a single, then advanced to second on an error. After back-to-back groundouts, Julian Abreu (Philadelphia, PA) stepped in a launched a two-run homer to cut it to 9-3. Brown doubled with two outs, but the Falcons couldn't extend the inning.
 
Danny Stickney (Secane, PA) homered to lead off the fifth inning, and, after Tristan Kuijer (Haarlem, NED) shut down the owls in the bottom frame, Lackawanna scored four more in the sixth, highlighted by a Brown RBI single, a Haifley sac fly, and a two-run Stickney homer that made it 9-8, Harford.
 
However, Harford could not be denied. Two-straight hit-by-pitches put the first two batters on, and a fly out advanced the runners to second and third. A sac fly to left scored a run, then a walk and a third hit batter loaded the bases, which Harford quickly emptied with a three-run double to make it 13-8, Owls.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Falcons got a baserunner with two outs, but Harford shut Lackawanna down to finish the game for the sweep.
 
Brown went 3-for-4 in game two with a run and an RBI, while Stickney was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. Abreu was 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs. Josiah Williams (Emmaus, PA) was hit with the loss, giving up seven runs in two innings of action.
 
Lackawanna will look for its first win this coming Saturday, February 21^st, when the Falcons are set to host UConn Avery Point in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11:00am ET at Mid Valley HS in Throop, PA. It's a rematch of last year's NJCAA East District Championship, which the Falcons won to advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series.