Crusaders Open Season With a Win over PSU Fayette in Doubleheader

Front Royal, VA – The Christendom College baseball team went 1-1 against the Penn State Fayette Nittany Lions in their first double-header of the Spring 2025 season. They took the first game 8-4 but fell in the second 20-10. 

Game 1

The Crusaders performance was on point to make their first game of the season a victory. In the first game, Christendom had a total of 12 hits, Peter Sullivan (Junior/ Omaha, NE) coming on top with 3 total. Will Reese (Junior/ Manassas, VA) concluded the night leading the team with 3 runs and also having 2 hits. Second baseman, Gus Coleman (Junior/ Milwaukee, WI) had 2 RBIs, helping add to the team's 8 runs of the day. Joe Romero (Sophomore/ Valley Center, CA) started on the mound for the team. He pitched 5.1 innings and forced a total of 6 strikeouts. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Christendom outplayed the Nittany Lions in the first inning, giving up no runs. The bottom of the inning proved promising as well for the Crusaders as Paul Amuso (Sophomore/ Bristow, VA) rounded home plate off a single by Matt O'Hara (Sophomore/ Hershey, PA) for the first run of the game. 

The Crusaders took the field on top 1-0, as the second inning began. Christendom did not see the same luck this inning. After giving up a few hits and walks, the Crusaders saw the Nittany Lions take the lead 4-1. Thanks to a double play and a caught ball, the Crusaders were able to close the costly beginning on the second inning. The bottom of the inning saw a run by Reese to start the comeback for his team. 

The third inning brought quick outs for both teams as the score remained 4-2 going into the fourth. The top of the fourth inning brough similar results for Christendom on defense, forcing outs from the first three batters for Penn State. The bottom of the fourth was crucial for the Crusaders as they put up 4 more runs. 

The Crusaders again played well on defense in the fifth inning, holding the Nittany Lions scoreless. Later that inning, Reese scored off a sacrifice fly from George Storey (Sophomore/Amisville, VA) and Sullivan singled to bring Amuso home. The Crusaders were now up 8-4. 

After a few more innings of play, the game came to a close with the Crusaders celebrating their first win on their first game of the Spring 2025 season.

Game 2

Although the Crusaders were unable to take the second game as well, they still ended the game with an impressive 10 runs. Coleman and Sullivan ended this game with 2 hits and 2 runs each. Sullivan also had 3 runs batted in as well, followed by O'Hara with 2. This game saw many different pitchers from the Crusaders. Thornberry started for Christendom and was followed by Reese, Ocean DeKulper (Freshman/ Twin Lake, MI), Storey and Anthony Pegis (Sophomore/ Front Royal, VA). 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game opened up with a scoreless first inning. The second inning brought the first scores of the match. A triple by the Nittany Lions put them on the board 3-0. The Crusaders responded in the bottom of the second with runs from Reese, Storey, Amuso, Coleman and Sullivan and Romero off a triple O'Hara. 

The top of the third proved even more successful for Penn State. After collecting a total of 8 runs, Storey caught a pop up to secure the final out. Although Christendom was unable to catch up, they had several runs in the third that drew them closer. After runs by Reese, Coleman, Sullivan and Romero, the inning came to a close 12-10; the Crusaders trailing. 

The fourth inning proved to be quiet, with only one run for the Nittany Lions and none for Christendom. Penn State continued to add to their score. They had a total of 7 additional runs in this inning. Despite each hitter putting the ball in play, Christendom could not find the runs necessary to continue onto the next inning. This closed out the second game.

Although the Crusaders lost this game 20-10, they finished the day 1-1 and with a hopeful start to the beginning of the season.