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Cole Harlacher's Two Hitter Lead No. 16 Penn to Victory

May 1, 2014


By Ben Grossberg
PBR Indiana

MISHAWAKA – No. 16 Penn welcomed Mishawaka for a Thursday night Northern Indiana Conference matchup. Cole Harlacher took the ball for Penn and was dominant from the first inning on as Penn stayed undefeated in conference play.

Harlacher gave up a leadoff walk on four pitches, but settled down after that. The walk was one of the few chances Mishawaka had to score in the game. Avondre Harris drew the walk and moved to second on a bunt and third on a pop up, but Harlacher picked up his first strikeout of the game to end the inning.

After the walk Harlacher shut down the Mishawaka offense. He followed the walk by setting down the next 11 batters. Mishawaka didn’t get a runner on until an error, then Harlacher set down the next six in a row, before another error gave Mishawaka a runner.

Penn struck for three runs in the third inning. Luke Schneider led off the inning with a single to right Mishawaka starter got a tailor made doubled play ball to short, but the ball couldn’t be fielded cleanly allowing both runners to be safe. After a walk loaded the bases, Tyler Perry came up and drove a ball down the line for a two run double. Tim Lira gave Penn one more run in the inning with a sacrifice fly to put Penn up 3-0 after three innings.

In the bottom of the sixth Penn gave Harlacher two more runs to work with. With the bases loaded CJ Banashak grounded a ball to short that brought in one run and a bad throw to first allowing another runner to cross the plate putting Penn up 5-0.

The story then switched to Harlacher, who through six innings had not allowed a hit. Mishawaka cleanup hitter Jacob Schmatz led off the top of the seventh, blooping a ball into center field. Centerfielder Banashak made a dive to catch the ball, but it was ruled that he trapped it, ending Harlacher’s bid for a no hitter. Mishawaka was then able to push across their first run with a one out double from Kyle Carson that scored Schmatz from first.

After the double and a walk Harlacher looked like he may be just about done for the night. However, he was able to buckle down getting the next two batters to strike out to finish off the complete game. He finished the day allowing just the two hits, one run, two walks, and striking out six to help Penn win 5-1 over rival Mishawaka. 

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