Lions Keep Hope Alive With Win Over Medaille; Fall To Altoona In Game One

ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team split Friday's playoff games, being clipped by Penn State Altoona, 12-2 and then regaining composure to beat Medaille, 13-3 to remain in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) championship hunt.

The Lions (25-11) tallied just six hits in 34 plate appearances in the game-one loss. Blake Pavlik drove in the Lions only two runs, the senior left fielder smacked a two-RBI single in the fourth inning.

Down 4-2, the Lions saw the game slip out of their hands in the eighth inning by giving up eight unanswered runs. Altoona would tack on a couple extra score in the ninth to cement the 12-2 victory.

Mike Moyer threw strong for most of the day but struggled late. The sophomore hurler was pulled after going seven innings, giving up 12 hits and eight earned runs, while striking out three.

With a series record of 1-1, the Lions (26-10) were facing elimination in game two.  Refusing to let their championship aspirations die, Behrend blew past Medaille 11-3.

Lions third baseman Matt Bittner, put the team on his back going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the win. Joe Paterniti also had his best offensive performance of the season hitting 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Mavericks held a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Behrend responded by posting 11 unanswered, including six runs which came in the fourth.  Harry Latta, Ed Kessler, and Geoff Lang each ushered in runs for the blue and white, while Evan Bukowski and Pavlik step on home plate thanks to errors on the pitcher.

An impressive outing for Ryan Jacobs who pitched the complete nine-inning game for the Lions, facing 36 batters, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, while striking out nine.

Behrend must beat Penn State Altoona twice to be crowned AMCC Champs for the fourth year in a row. Games six and seven (if needed) will start Saturday at 10 a.m.