By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team opened the 2020 season on Saturday battling the cold weather they dropped both ends of a doubleheader at The Apprentice School. The Builders won the first game 3-1 and earned the sweep with a 9-3 win.

The Apprentice School 3, Penn State Mont Alto 1

• Tyler Winegrad turned in a stellar performance on the mound for the Builders. He tossed five innings and didn't allow a hit. Teammate Taylor Hampton earned the save and only allowed one hit.
• That one hit was a solo homer in the top of the sixth inning off of the bat of AJ Millar (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin).
• The Apprentice School broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the second inning when Braden Lambert hit a two-run home run to left field. The Builders added an insurance run to their lead when Lou Picolo scored on a fielder's choice.
• Matt Huston (McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg) made his first career start for Mont Alto and tossed 3.0 innings, scattering two hits while also managing a pair of strikeouts.

The Apprentice School 9, Penn State Mont Alto 3

• The Builders struck first with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. PSUMA had an immediate response within the next half inning as Owen McCleaf (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area) scored on a passed ball.
• Apprentice brought across four runs in the bottom of frame taking advantage of PSUMA reliever Chayse Fisher (Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan). The Nittany Lions made it 5-3 as Brady Topper (Littlestown, Pa. / Littlestown) scored after Hunter Reath (Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan) was hit by a pitch. The other run scored when Jared Pine (Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan) drew a bases loaded walk.
• Braden Lambert hit a ball to the left center field gap that brought home two and extended the lead to 7-3 with the Builders plating two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
• Alberto Fabian (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic / KCAPA) went 2-for-4 at the plate with Mont Alto managing four hits in the loss. The Nittany Lions lineup did show patience at the plate drawing eight walks.

Up next, Penn State Mont Alto will travel to Southern Virginia University where they will have a doubleheader on Saturday, February 22. Game times are slated for 12 and 2 p.m.