SCOTLAND — Carlisle was searching for its first baseball victory of the season. The Thundering Herd trailed Chambersburg for most of the game, but had a chance to cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning.

But the Trojans threw out a pair of Carlisle runners at second base, ended the inning with a four-run lead and defeated the Herd 7-3 in a Mid Penn Commonwealth game Thursday at Greene Twp. Park.

“They ended up being very big plays,” Chambersburg coach Scott Folmar said. “We had lost our edge, so it was huge to get those two outs on plays where you don’t expect them.”

The Herd put the first two runners on base against reliever Bryson Byers on an error and a base hit. Hunter Swartz then singled to right, scoring Shane Keller. But Swartz was caught trying to advance to second base for the first out.

Dan Davenport later singled to score Jonas Fowler, but he, too, was thrown out at second for the final out of the inning.

After Carlisle (0-12) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Trojans (5-6, 4-4 MPC) came right back with two runs. Spencer Hockensmith singled in a run and the second scored on a sacrifice fly by Kaden Hoover.

Chambersburg got two more runs off Will Warren in the second, without a hit. Warren issued three walks and Hockensmith’s fielder’s choice and a sac fly by Luke Wetzel brought the runs in.

In the fourth, facing Swartz, the Trojans scored three times to take a 7-1 lead. They loaded the bases with no outs on a hit batter (Elijah Snyder), a single by Austin Kopp and a bunt single by Max Armstrong. Hockensmith completed his four-RBI game with a two-run double grounded down the left field line, and Wetzel hit his his second sac fly.

“Our approach in the first four innings was to be aggressive at the plate,” Folmar said. “But after that we had guys on base but couldn’t finish the game.”

Spencer Seaman tossed the first three innings for Chambersburg, allowing one one and one hit, to earn the victory.

Folmar said, “He threw great. He usually throws strikes and we played good defense behind him.”

Two consecutive wins have brought Chambersburg inside the top 10 in the District 3 power rankings; the top 10 qualify for the playoffs. With nine games left, it still has a decent shot to end the season on a strong note.

Chambersburg 7, Carlisle 3
Carlisle: Shane Keller, rf 2-2-0-0, Sam Kulp, dh 2-0-0-0, Hunter Hersh, lf 0-0-0-0, Jonas Fowler, ph 1-1-1-0, Hunter Swartz, cf 3-0-1-1, Will Mosinski, ss 3-0-1-1, Dan Davenport, c 2-0-1-1, Jake Skura, cr 0-0-0-0, Will Warren, p 3-0-0-0, Kyle Price, 3b 3-0-0-0, Joe Centobene, 1b 2-0-0-0, Josh Richwine, p 1-0-0-0, Austin Orris, 2b 2-0-0-0. Totals 23-3-4-3.
Chambersburg: Austin Kopp, ss 3-3-2-0, Max Armstrong, 3b 3-1-1-0, Spencer Hockensmith, rf 4-1-2-4, Luke Wetzel, 1b 1-0-0-2, Aaden Newman, dh 3-0-2-0, Bailey Leedy, lf 0-0-0-0, Kaden Hoover, cf 2-0-0-1, Brady Hughes, c 3-0-0-0, Spencer Seaman, p 1-0-0-0, Bryson Byers, p 0-0-0-0, Elijah Snyder, 2b 1-2-0-0. Total 22-7-7-7.
Carlisle                   100   002   0   —   3
Chambersburg      220   300   x   —   7
E — Car 2, Chbg 1. LOB — Car 2, Chbg 6. 2B — Hockensmith. SB — Keller. SF — Wetzel 2, Hoover.
Carlisle Pitching
                                    ip   h   r   er   bb  so
Warren, L                  2    3    4   4    4     0
Swartz                        2   4     3   3    0     0
Hersh                         1    0    0   0     1    2
Richwine                   1    0    0   0     0    0
Chambersburg Pitching
Seaman, W (1-1)      3    1    1   1     1     2
Byers                         3    3    2   1     1     0
Hoover                     1    0    0    0     0    1
HBP — by Swartz (Snyder). WP — Warren.