staff writer: bianca stupka
Sept. 13, 2024 – Penn State students across multiple western campuses banded together at PNC Park, supporting the Pittsburgh Pirates as they took on the Kansas City Royals. Many students wore Pirates gear, some wore Penn State gear, and they all shared a sense of pride in their school and regional MLB team.
While the Pirates had more losses than wins overall this season, they were also coming off their fourth straight win. Fans were hoping the winning streak would continue, even if only to end the season on a positive note as the season began to close.
The first inning passed quietly with no score for either team. Unfortunately, this was only the calm before the storm for the Pirates.
The second began with the Royals eager to bat, which quickly escalated to them gaining the lead with six runs while the Pirates stayed scoreless. The Royals then hit a solo home run in the fourth, bringing them to 7-0.
The Pirates finally scored during the sixth with player Oneil Cruz, bringing them to a total score of 7-1 with three innings remaining. The Royals weren’t done, though; they hit another solo homer in the eighth, advancing their lead to 8-1.
The Pirates tried to steel themselves in the ninth, scoring twice with players De La Cruz and Triolo, but were ultimately unsuccessful. The final score had the Kansas City Royals winning 8-3.
Though the fans were hoping for more from this game and the loss seemed disappointing, Penn State students still had high spirits at the end of the night. After all, a loss doesn’t stop the fans from supporting their team or having fun while doing so.
Regardless of the final score, the Penn State students in attendance all expressed the fun of being there and cheering on their favorite baseball team together. Sports are as much about finding community as they are about winning, and nothing builds community more than yelling at your favorite team to “pull it together” as a group!
The night still managed to end on a high note, as the gorgeous postgame fireworks show left fans in awe as they lit up the Pittsburgh skyline, and hopefully, a brighter future for the Pirates.
