DuBois wins Thriller in 11 Innings 14-13 over PSGA

 Words often fail to convey the experience of an event, and tonight's baseball game at Showers Field was one of those moments that words can never adequately describe. If you weren't at the ballpark last night, you missed one of the best displays of baseball you're ever likely to see.

For 11 innings, Penn State DuBois and Penn State Greater Allegheny went toe to toe with each other in a way more reminiscent of a classic heavyweight title fight.

Both teams battled back and forth, putting it all on the line, but when the dust settled, PSD emerged victorious on a two-run walk-off single by Joey DiPietro. It took a lot of grit and determination to get to that point. PSD found themselves down early in a 3-0 hole, but tied things at 3 all. PSD would take a slim 5-4 lead in the fifth inning and would hold that lead until PSUGA put three runs up to take back the lead 7-5.

In the bottom of the 8th, PSD would put up four runs to go back out in front 9-7. The inning was highlighted by a two run homer to left field by Vincent McDowell. It was McDowell's first college home run. In the top of the ninth, PSUGA had runners at second and third with two out, and got a big three run homer of their own to go up 10-9. Down a run with two outs, PSD was down to their final out, and Clayton Butler stepped to the plate. Butler smashed a belt-high fastball well over the right centerfield wall for a solo bomb that tied the score and sent the game into extra innings.

In the 10th, PSD had a golden opportunity for a walk-off win getting the bases loaded with one out, but they could not get the run home, and the game continued into the 11th inning. In the PSUGA half of the 11th, GA would load the bases with two out, and get a bases clearing double to left centerfield to put PSUGA seemingly in control of the game. Down 13-10 heading into the bottom of the 11th inning, PSD would once again reach deep down and battle back to finally end things.

PSD would load the bases and got the benefit of two bases loaded walks to cut the lead to 13-12. Now the tying run was at third, with the winning run at second. This is when Joey DiPietro would smack a single to left that would score two and hand PSD the walk-off win. It was the second consecutive game that DiPietro would have the game winning hit.

The hard-earned victory clinched the #1 seed in the Western Division of the Penn State University Athletic Conference for Penn State DuBois, and marks the third consecutive year that PSD has earned that honor. PSD moves to 21-7 on the year and 11-1 in the PSUAC. The team's next game will be this Saturday, April 21st at Showers Field against PSU Beaver. The game will highlight Senior Day as the team pays recognition to the Senior Class of players and their families. Game time is set for 1pm Saturday.