Lions Knock Off Fredonia St.

FREDONIA, NY - The Penn State Behrend baseball team defeated Fredonia St. for the second time this season 8-5 in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.

The Lions (15-6-1) pounded out 13 hits, including three doubles by Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) to earn their 15th victory of the season.

Behrend opened the game with a three spot in the opening inning.  After Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) walked to start the game, Bittner and Ryan Geibel (East Butler, PA/Butler) hit back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Lions up 2-0.  With two outs in the innings, Tommy Kocur (Erie, PA/McDowell) singled home a run to push the lead to three.

After trading runs in the third and fourth, Behrend put up another three runs in the sixth. Jordan Weinzierl (St. Marys, PA/St. Marys) and Kragnes both scored to give the Lions a 6-1 advantage.  Following a Bittner stolen base, Geibel came through with a two-out hit to plate Behrend's third run of the inning.

With a four-run lead in the ninth, Taylor Overby (Nazareth, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) ripped an RBI single to give the Lions an insurance run.

In the ninth, the Blue Devils put together a few hits and suddenly with one out, Fredonia St. brought the winning run to the plate.  Connor Semple (Washington, PA/McGuffey) entered the game for Behrend and got the final two outs to earn his first collegiate save.

Justin Wood (Alleghany, NY/Alleghany Limestone) picked up the win for the Lions with 3.2 innings pitched while only giving up one run and striking out three.  Matt Parnes (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) also threw well for Behrend with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Bittner led the offense with three doubles, a single, and three RBIs.  Kragnes and Geibel added two hits apiece.

The Lions will be back in action on Saturday.  Behrend will host Penn St. Altoona at 1 p.m.