ATHENS FALLS TO SAYRE, 15-3, AT PNC FIELD

By: Tim Birney  /  May 15, 2022  /  Photo: Matt Patton

SCRANTON — Sayre poured nine runs across the plate in the second inning to erase an early deficit en route to a 15-3 five-inning win over Athens here Sunday afternoon at PNC Field.

The Wildcats took advantage of two errors after a one-out single by junior Caleb Nichols to load the bases. With two outs, junior Jaren Glisson stroked a two-run single to right field to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Redskins struck back quickly in the top of the second inning.

David Northrup led off with a triple to deep center field, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by senior Kannon VanDuzer to close the gap to 2-1.

After walks to junior Jackson Hubbard, and senior Mason Houseknecht the Redskins had the bases loaded with one out. An RBI single by senior Oakley Gorman tied the game at 2-2, and a wild pitch gave Sayre the lead for good, at 3-2.

With two outs, three consecutive errors by the Wildcats allowed runs to score, giving Sayre a 7-2 lead.

Sayre loaded the bases again on a walk to Hubbard, and added runs on a walk to senior Dom Fabbri, and an RBI single by Houseknecht to make it 9-2.

 The Redskins added two runs in the third inning by Northrup to extend their lead to 11-2.

Sayre added five runs — all with two outs — in the fifth inning in a rally highlighted by a two-RBI double by junior Kegan Hayford, and an RBI single by senior Josh Arnold to make it 15-2.

Senior Karter Rude led off the home half of the fifth inning with a single, and scored on an RBI double by Nichols, but Sayre starter Luke Horton retired the next three batters, including a strikeout for the game’s final out.

Lucas Horton earned the win for the Redskins, allowing three runs — one earned — on six hits, while striking out 11 without a walk in five innings.

Northrup tripled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and VanDuzer singled twice, scored three runs and had one RBI to pace Sayre’s 10-hit attack, while senior Brayden Horton tripled and scored two runs, and junior Zach Garrity doubled and scored two runs.

Hayford doubled, scored one run, and had two RBI in the win, while Houseknecht and Gorman each singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Arnold singled and drove in one run, Fabbri drove in one run, and Lucas Horton, Hubbard and sophomore Tanner Green each scored one run.

Nichols doubled and singled, scored one run, and had one RBI to lead Athens at the plate, while Glisson singled and drove in two runs, Rude, and junior Cameron Sullivan each singled and scored one run, and senior J.J. Babcock added a single.

Sayre improves to 17-2 and will host Troy Monday in the season finale, while Athens wraps up the regular-season campaign at 12-8.