The University of Mary Washington baseball team split its first CAC doubleheader of the season with the Penn State-Harrisburg Lions on Monday to move to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Eagles fell in the opener, 3-2, and won the night cap, 8-6.
In the first game, the Lions took a 2-0 lead in the second before the Eagles tied it up in the fifth. Reed Farrier started the inning off with a single. After Farrier advanced to second on a ground out, Thomas Weaver drove him in on a single to center field. Brian Burns followed with a single of his own, and Stephen Johnston walked to load the bases. Riley West was hit on the next at bat, scoring Weaver to tie the game.
The Lions scored again in the sixth, which proved to be the winning run. Hank Biggs took the loss for the Eagles, pitching six innings, while striking out eight and walking four.
In the second game, the Lions scored in the second inning to take an early lead, but the Eagles responded with three in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Weaver and Burns walked, then Johnston drove them in on a double. Farrier followed with a double to drive in Johnston.
The Lions answered with five runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead, but the Eagles scored three in the eighth to take the lead back at 6-5. Christian Hague was hit to start the inning. Then with two outs, Weaver singled to center. Zavier Webb, who pinch ran for Hague, and Weaver advanced on a wild pitch. Burns walked to load the bases, and another wild pitch followed to advance the runners, scoring Webb. Johnston was intentionally walked, and Tyler Truslow singled to center to drive in two more runs.
The Eagles scored two more runs in the ninth to go up 8-5. Ramsis Ruiz singled to start the inning and then advanced to third when Riley West reached on an error. Garrett Lyons then walked to load the bases. Weaver doubled to center to drive in Ruiz and West.
The Lions scored one more run in the ninth, but the Eagles held on for an 8-6 win.
Alex Shapiro and Paul McClure each pitched four innings, combining for ten strikeouts and four walks.
The Eagles are back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Christopher Newport for another Capital Athletic Conference contest at 3:45 pm.