By Roy Harper
KEYSER, W.Va. —Potomac State its most delivered a commanding performance of the season in overwhelming Corning Community College in a doubleheader sweep at Golden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Across two games, Potomac State pounded out 31 runs and 20 hits, using massive early innings and steady work on the mound from Gabe Jansen and Gavin Bennett to take complete control of the twin bill.
Game One: Potomac State 14, Corning 0
Potomac State erupted for nine runs in the first inning, sending 13 hitters to the plate and effectively putting the game out of reach early.
Lex Wescott ignited the rally with an RBI triple to right-center. Moments later, Peyton Blue delivered a run-scoring double, and Dylan Rice followed with an RBI single as the Catamounts kept the line moving.
The inning's biggest blow came from John Mallow, who ripped a bases-clearing double that plated three runs and pushed the lead to 9–0 before the first inning was complete.
Potomac State added on in the second inning, adding three more runs behind a sacrifice fly from Seth Healy and an RBI single from Braden Sloan. The Catamounts finished the scoring in the third when Blue launched a solo home run, followed by an RBI double from Logan Rotruck to extend the lead to 14.
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, Gabe Jansen controlled the game on the mound.
The right-hander delivered four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven Corning hitters without issuing a walk. Brady McNew closed out the shutout with a clean fifth inning as Potomac State secured the five-inning run-rule victory.
Blue finished the opener with three runs and two hits, while Mallow drove in three RBIs during the decisive first-inning surge.
Game Two: Potomac State 17, Corning 5
After Corning briefly grabbed a 1–0 lead in the first inning, Potomac State answered immediately with a six-run outburst.
Jaxon Drennen jumpstarted the rally with a two-run double, and Caden Johnson followed with a three-run double.
Potomac State exploded for nine runs in the second inning. Drennen delivered the defining swing of the frame with a three-run triple, while Lex Wescott added an RBI triple of his own and John Mallow contributed an RBI single as the lead ballooned to 15–2.
Drennen finished the game with five RBIs, while Johnson drove in three runs and Josh Patrick added two RBIs.
In the third inning, Tate Musko punctuated the offensive barrage with a two-run home run to deep right-field, pushing the Catamounts to their 17th run of the afternoon.
On the mound, Gavin Bennett delivered a strong outing in the start, striking out eight batters over 3.1 innings while battling through early traffic. Judd Messerly handled the final innings to close out the victory.
Potomac State now 7-2 will host Allegany College of Maryland for a pair of games on Sunday afternoon at Golden Park.