3/10/26
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College baseball played 8.2 innings of baseball without holding a lead on Tuesday afternoon, but the Falcons still found a way to be the team with the lead at the end, overcoming a five-run deficit in the eighth to walk things off via Deacon Brown in the bottom of the ninth, 13-12, over SUNY Ulster CC at Scranton HS baseball field.
 
The Falcons (5-8) really had no business winning the non-conference game, trailing 10-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. The visiting Senators (0-1) jumped out to a 7-5 lead, then shut down the Lackawanna lineup for four straight innings, stranding five base runners in that time, and then adding two runs on a double in the seventh and a third run on a passed ball in the eighth.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Lackawanna offense finally came alive, as the Falcons climbed back within two runs when Brown (Williamsport, PA) doubled to deep right-center field, clearing the bases loaded with two outs. Even so, Ulster used an RBI single and a sac fly to go ahead, 12-8, heading into the bottom of the ninth.
 
Lackawanna started the inning with a walk, then got the runner to third on a passed ball and an error on the catcher. Another walk put runners on the corners, and a fielder's choice forced one run home to make it 12-9 with one away. A stolen base put a runner on second, and another walk made it first and second. Mark Zuppo (Garnet Valley, PA) singled home a runner to cut it to 12-10, and the Falcons had runners on first and third with still just one out. Zuppo broke for second for a stolen base, sliding in safely while the runner at third came home, and, miraculously, the Falcons were within one run with just one out. A pop out behind third base put two away, bringing Julian Abreu (Philadelphia, PA) to the plate.
 
A bizarre sequence played out where Zuppo tried to steal third and the catcher hopped up and inadvertently collided with the umpire as he tried to throw. His errant throw completely missed third and it looked like the Falcons had tied the game as Zuppo came home to score…but the umpire called interference on himself and sent Zuppo back to second. On the very next pitch, Abreu laced a double down the left field line, sending the tying run home for the second time that inning and igniting the Lackawanna College dugout.
 
That brought Brown up to bat, and Deacon rode a 1-1 pitch to deep left-center field, clearing the outfielders with ease for the game-winning double and emptying the dugout as the Falcons mobbed him on the basepaths.
 
Brown finished 3-for-6 with four RBIs and a run scored, while Hunter Austra (Larksville, PA) scored two runs and had two RBIs via a triple earlier in the contest. Jake Virbitsky (Media, PA) had a single, a double, and a triple, scoring a run for the day, and Jose Soquiel (Hazleton, PA) had two runs after pinch-hitting in the fifth. Kolton Haifley (New Oxford, PA) had two RBIs and a pair of walks. Brant Barilaro (Monaca, PA) gets the win, pitching three innings of relief and giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits, while striking out four.
 
Lackawanna College has won three of its last four games, and the Falcons will look to add to their run with a pair of games on Saturday, March 14^th at SUNY Onondaga CC. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00pm ET in Syracuse, NY.