SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill Baseball defeated Penn State Brandywine in the opening round of the PSUAC Playoffs on Saturday.

After retiring three consecutive batters in the top of the first, doubles by RayJay Marmolejos (Wyomissing, PA / Wilson High School) and Owen Zimmerman (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School) in the bottom of the inning provided Schuylkill with an early 1-0 lead. Brandywine tripled on the first play in the top of the third and later capitalized on an error and a fly ball, securing two RBIs.

Jared Sterner (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) singled and then advanced to second and third base following a wild pitch and a passed ball. Conner Licklider (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) advanced on a fielder's choice shortly after, scoring a run for Sterner. Schuylkill loaded the bases after walks by Zimmerman and Brenan Adams (Pottsville, PA / Pottsville Area High School), and would score as all players advanced on a wild pitch. Tristian Baer (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) walked later in the inning, giving Schuylkill their third run, resulting in a 4-2 advantage heading into the fourth inning.

Zimmerman, Nate Gilbert (Shoemakersville, PA / Hamburg Area High School), and Adams hit consecutive singles to kick off the bottom of the fifth, leading to a run for Zimmerman. Brandywine managed to score two runs in the top of the sixth but fell short of making a comeback.

Zimmerman finished 2-3 at bat with a double and an RBI. Marmolejos and Sterner also contributed doubles for Schuylkill.

On Sunday, May 5th, the battle between the East and West Division's number one seeds will commence as Penn State Schuylkill faces Penn State Dubois at 2:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship game at University Park on Monday, May 6th. The loser of Sunday's contest will compete in a win-or-go-home game against the winner of Penn State Brandywine vs. Penn State York on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.