Old Bridge earns split in split series with Edison, 6-2 behind solid start from Penkala

Old Bridge senior Akhil Penkala last took the mound for the Knights in his sophomore season, splitting a grand total of six innings over two games.

But you couldn’t tell as he worked into the seventh inning Tuesday of a GMC Red Division game at Edison.

While Penkala wasn’t overpowering, the righty went the longest he’s every gone on the mound at the varsity level. And while his team’s offense pieced together a run here, and a run there, he held Edison mostly at bay.

The Knights topped Edison 6-2 Wednesday in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 3-3 on the young season.

At the plate, senior John Smith drove in three runs, the first on a 4-3 double-play in the third, the other two with a one-out single in the fifth.

Smith hit a two-out double in the first, then scored on an RBI single by Erich Shikschneit, giving Old Bridge a 1-0 lead. They added a run in the third on that DP Smith hit into, but Edison got it back when Brody Ferrer – who lead off with a walk – was sacrificed home on a fly ball to left by Anthony Calantoni.

Old Bridge picked up another run in the fourth, when Anthony Jannucci led off with a double, then came in from third when Jared Volpe hit into a double play. Then, in the fifth, the Knights got two more to make it 5-1. Brody Nugent and Chris Crosta both got on via infield errors, then scored on a single by Smith.

The Knights got one more on the top of the seventh when Volpe hit a ball right through the third baseman’s legs into left field, scoring Shikschneit.

Then, in the bottom of the inning, Penkala came out to finish out, but only lasted two batters, after Dom Innocenti led off with a triple to left and Connor Murphy scored him with a double to left-center. That’s when Noah Balbuena came in and closed the deal, getting two fly ball outs, then after a single, got a fly out to center to end it.

Edison falls to 2-3 with the loss; freshman starter Brayden Roma took the defeat, but only allowing three earned runs. Penkala picked up the win.

Click below for postgame reaction presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen with Old Bridge pitcher Akhil Penkala and head coach Matt Donaghue: