Behrend Splits Doubleheader With Gators

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team bounced back after a difficult, 14-8 loss against non-conference opponent Allegheny, Saturday in game one by winning the second, 1-0.

The back-end of the doubleheader didn't see a hit until the second inning, when Blake Pavlik reached on a double to left field for the Lions (14-6). The Gator's (9-10) defense responded retiring the next two batters.

Pitching a perfect game through three, Andy Kountz gave up his first hit to Jeff Dassaner in the fourth. Dassner's single was followed by a wild pitch and an intentional walk that put three on with no outs for Allegheny. With the bases loaded, Kountz stepped up huge, forcing two ground balls to end the inning.

Leading off the fourth for Behrend was Pavlik, who knocked in his second double in the game to set the way for Evan Bukowski's RBI single and the game winning run, 1-0.

Kountz went 6.1 innings for the Lions, giving up only four hits and zero runs, while striking out two batters in the win. Chad Zurat earned the save, his second of the season.

The Lions held a 3-1 lead coming out of the first inning of game one thanks to an error by the Gators pitching staff that brought home two runs and a Bukowski single that scored Matt Bittner.

After the third, the Lions held a 4-3 lead until Allegheny came storming back in the fourth inning, tallying six runs on six hits, 9-4.

Behrend tried to mount a comeback by scoring a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Geoff Lang was instrumental in the rally. Lang drilled a triple into the outfield that set up for one of Bittner's three RBIs. Joe Paterniti and Harry Latta also drove in a run to leave the Lions down, 12-8.

The Gators ended all hopes by scoring two additional runs in the sixth to win game 14-8.

Brandon Ellis earned the win after entering the game in the third. Ellis threw for nine outs sitting down one batter and giving up three hits and three earned runs.