Penn State Scranton Baseball Captures Historic First Win

By Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a warm, Saturday afternoon in the electric city, Penn State Scranton baseball defeated rival conference foe Penn State Hazleton 4-1 to notch their first win of the young season, evening up their record at 1-1, and impressively seizing their first victory in five years. The triumph also was head coach Vito Ruggiero's first win since taking over as the leader of the program, after last season, in what would have been his first year at the helm, was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mid Valley high school grad, sophomore Mark Longo, toed the rubber and was sensational all day on the mound. He threw a dominant six and two-thirds innings, giving up only one unearned run, while fanning seven batters, as he was the winning pitcher of record. Junior Joe Talutto, who impressed in his mound debut throwing two scoreless innings in the season opening 8-2 loss to Penn State Schuylkill on Thursday, continued his stalwart relief work, as he wrapped up the game with a shutout ninth inning to pick up the save.

Scranton's offensive stars of the game were the five headed monster attack of junior shortstop Rob McAndrew, fellow junior second baseman Carson Cacioppo, center fielder Talutto, freshman third baseman David Blake, and freshman catcher Cole Bannan. McAndrew led his team in hits on the day, going 3-4 and tallying a run. Cacioppo was a force in the contest without even recording a hit, as he reached base four times via the walk and scored two runs. Talutto was 1-4 with a walk, as he drove in Cacioppo on an RBI single in the top of the first inning to get his squad on the board first. Blake reached base in all four of his plate appearances, as he recorded a hit to go along with his three walks on the day. Last but certainly not least, Bannan was 2-5, scoring a run, and notching a game-high 3 RBI, as he launched an awe-inspiring, game winning three run home run over the left field fence to put his team back up at 4-1, after his squad had just relinquished their slim 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Hazleton third baseman Nick Ciszak scored his team's lone run of the game off of an error. Bannan's game changing homer was foreshadowed in the season opener, when he barely missed another three run round tripper in the ninth inning that was caught right at the warning track.

Hazleton's offense was held to just six hits on the day, even though they reached base via the walk seven times. Their starting pitcher Vinny Castrine, who got the no decision, was locked in an impressive duel all day with Scranton's hurler Longo, as he threw a solid 6 and 2/3 innings, only allowing five hits, one earned run, while striking out eight batters, and walking six. Mark Kokinda came in relief and picked up the loss on the mound, as he threw 2 1/3 innings, surrendering two hits, walking three, and giving up three earned runs on the Bannan home run.

Coach Ruggiero was very proud of his program's historic first win in five years. "I'm very happy for these kids, it was a long time coming getting this first win, so well deserved. These kids have overcome a lot of adversity and have worked so hard. They have fully committed to this program, each other, me, and most importantly their academics. Mark Longo was excellent today and pitched his heart out. Cole Bannan crushing a three run home run in the ninth inning was so big, picking us up after we just gave up the lead the previous inning.  It's big beating a rival school. Especially we are the underdogs this season with only ten guys on the team, but they believe they can win and now they know they can after today. Our first practice I handed each player a pen and told them to write their own story, and they truly are. Hopefully it's the first win of many," said coach Ruggiero.

Now 0-1 Penn State Hazleton will look to even up their record when they play on the road on Monday afternoon against Penn State York. While 1-1 Penn State Scranton will look to win their second straight game when they visit Penn State York for a Tuesday afternoon contest.