EDWARDSVILLE, PA — May 9, 2025 — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball team (13-15) suffered an 11-2 loss to Penn State Harrisburg (32-9-1) in the opening game of the United East Conference Final Four at King’s College in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania. Despite early opportunities, the Seahawks struggled to convert, while the Lions surged with a 10-run outburst over three innings to secure the victory.
Penn State Harrisburg opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead. St. Mary’s had runners in scoring position during the first few innings but failed to capitalize, leaving potential runs stranded. The Lions’ offense erupted in the later innings, adding 10 runs across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to build an insurmountable lead.
The Seahawks’ best chance to respond came in the top of the sixth inning with runners on second and third and one out. However, the rally was stifled when Ian Walters was caught stealing home, and Corey Brown struck out, ending the inning without a score. St. Mary’s mounted a late effort in the ninth inning, scoring two runs on back-to-back at-bats driven by RBIs from Layne Lesko and Eli Shafer. Despite the effort, the rally fell short, and the game concluded with an 11-2 final score.
Layne Lesko led the Seahawks’ offense, recording two hits and an RBI. Starting pitcher Ryder Chalk threw six and one-quarter innings, facing 31 batters and allowing seven earned runs. Reliever Jack Overton pitched one inning, facing eight batters.
The game highlighted St. Mary’s challenges against a formidable Penn State Harrisburg squad, which entered the Final Four with a strong 32-9-1 record. The Seahawks, with a 13-15 record, showed resilience in their late-game push but could not overcome the Lions’ dominant performance. The loss places St. Mary’s in a must-win scenario as they continue their postseason campaign.
St. Mary’s College, located in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, competes in the United East Conference and has a history of developing competitive baseball programs. The Seahawks’ appearance in the Final Four underscores their ability to contend at a high level, even against top-seeded teams like Penn State Harrisburg. The team’s focus now shifts to their next matchup as they aim to extend their season.
The Seahawks are set to face No. 5 Cairn University on May 10 at 10:00 a.m. in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, in their next game of the tournament. A victory is critical for St. Mary’s to remain in contention for the conference championship. Fans can follow the team’s progress through the St. Mary’s College athletics website or social media channels for updates on the game.
The United East Conference Final Four brings together the top baseball teams in the conference, with Penn State Harrisburg and Cairn among the favorites. St. Mary’s, as an underdog, faces a challenging path but has shown flashes of potential, particularly in Lesko’s offensive contributions and the team’s ninth-inning rally. The upcoming game against Cairn will test the Seahawks’ ability to regroup and execute under pressure.
