Behrend Sweeps Hilbert; Lions Narrowly Escape Game One

ERIE, Pa. – Ryan Kragnes went 5-for-7 at the plate while Evan Bukowski hit a perfect 4-for-4 to help the Penn State Behrend baseball team sweep conference foe Hilbert, Wednesday, 2-1 and 15-2.

Through the first seven innings of game one, the Lions (10-3, 3-0) failed to score, leaving three players in scoring position. With one out in the third inning, Verona reached third base thanks to a Kragnes single but was left standing to close the inning. In the top of the fifth, Verona returned to third but was unable to score again. Rich Doyle was the last Behrend runner to be left holding third in the sixth inning.

Behrend's Mike Moyer was pitching a perfect game through five until Ryan Fleet singled to center field to give the Hawks (1-8, 0-1) their first hit on the game.  The Lions responded sitting down the next two batters.

After a scoreless seven, the game went into extra innings. Moyer would leave the game after going 8.1 innings on the mound giving up two hits and striking out three batters.

Bottom of the ninth with two outs and runners on first and third, Chris Hoake singled to third base to bring in Hilbert's only run (1-0).

The game on the line, the Lions put runners in scoring position thanks to singles by Joe Barbara and Ryan Kragnes. Bases loaded after an Ed Kessler walk, Jeff Lang stepped to the plate. Lang would single to knot the game at 1-all. The next batter was Evan Bukowski who earned the game winning RBI by bringing home Kragnes on a line-drive single to right field.

Chad Zurat (2-0) racked up the win for Behrend in the 2-1 win over Hilbert.

A much different story in game two of the double header as the Lions (11-3, 4-0) outscored the Hawks (1-9, 0-2) 15-2.

Bukowski continue his brilliant hitting performance going 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs.  After a quite game one, Matt Bittner who only made one hit went 2-for-3 with seven RBIs, two of which came in the third to give Behrend a 3-nill lead.

The Lions saw wonderful contributions from winning pitcher Shane Stauffer (1-1) and Andy Kountz. Stauffer gave up five hits while striking out six batters in 5.2 innings of work. Kountz who was brought in to relieve Stauffer, struck two of his four opponents.  

Behrend was walked 10 times in the 15-2 blowout.

The Lions will return to action Saturday, to take on Mt. Aloysius in conference play. The double header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.