Baseball Opens Season in Kentucky; Drop Pair to Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team traveled to Spalding to kick off their 2017 campaign Saturday afternoon in a two-game set.

The Lions (0-2) threatened the Golden Eagles (4-1) right off the bat after Scott Sada (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown) ripped a one out double in the top of the first. Behrend, however, was unable to bring him around.

Spalding responded by plating two in the bottom of the inning, giving them the early lead. After recording two outs, the Golden Eagles took advantage of a walk followed by an error to put runners in scoring position. A passed ball scored their first run which was followed by a double down the right field line to plate the second.

Spalding would add one more run each in the second and third innings to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

Zach Murray (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) sparked a three-run inning in the fifth with his one out single to left field. He then advanced to second after Ian Taylor (Wexford, PA/Vincentian Academy) drew a walk to set up Brandon Bergstrom (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny). The senior shortstop came up big, scoring Murray and Taylor with a double down the left field line. Sada, who had been hit by a pitch, came around to score from first when Brian Bohman (Erie, PA/McDowell) doubled to center.

The Lions kept the Golden Eagles off the board for the remainder of the game, but were unable to add any more runs of their own.

Justin Rohrer (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) got the start and Phil Myers (DuBois, PA/Dubois Central Catholic) came in in relief. The pair each pitched three innings.

Bergstrom finished with two hits and two RBIs.

Behrend got on the board first in game two. Ben Ramey (Export, PA/Franklin Regional) singled to center to get things going in the top of the third. John Brittner (Zelienople, PA/Seneca Valley) came to the plate next, driving a ball over the left field fence to give the Lions the 2-0 lead. Spalding cut the lead in half in the bottom on the third on a wild pitch.

In the fifth, Sada's double down the left field line brought Ramey around to score for the second time of the game. The Golden Eagles answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to bring the game back within one.

Spalding added two more runs to take the 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the sixth inning and never looked back. They would go on to add four more runs in the seventh to take an 8-3 victory.

Sada and Brittner led the Lions at the plate in game two, each going 2-for-4. Brittner added two RBIs.

Jack Herzing (St. Mary's PA/Elk County Catholic) made the start on the bump in game two. He went four innings and struck out 10 batters while only giving up one hit.

Eric Mikulan (Pittsburgh, PA/Hampton) picked up the loss after going two innings and giving up three earned runs.

The Lions will look to add their first win of the season tomorrow when they finish up the three-game set against the Golden Eagles. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.