Bittner Leads Lions Over Muskingum
Matt Bittner went 4-8 with two home runs, one triple, and six RBIs en route to helping the Penn State Behrend baseball team defeat Muskingum 9-2 and 8-1 in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
NEW CONCORD, Ohio - Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) went 4-8 with two home runs, one triple, and six RBIs en route to helping the Penn State Behrend baseball team defeat Muskingum 9-2 and 8-1 in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions (6-5) erupted for 17 runs on 20 hits to get back on track after dropping three straight.
In game one, Dante DeSantis (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) was magnificent on the hill, going the distance for Behrend. DeSantis struck out seven hitters and only walked one batter to earn his first collegiate win.
Bittner got the Lions' offense going early with a two-run home run in the first inning. Behrend came back in the second with three more runs after Tommy Kocur (Erie, PA/McDowell) singled home two. Ryan Geibel (East Butler, PA/Butler) followed with a clutch two-out single to score Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) for the second time in two innings.
After a scoreless third, Bittner was back at it with an RBI ground out to once again plate Kragnes. In the sixth, Kragnes got in on the action with a RBI double to deep center field. Two batters later, Bittner tripled to center to bring home Kragnes. Now up 8-0, Nathan Junk (Cabot, PA/Knoch) recorded his first career hit with a RBI double. Muskingum tacked on two runs in the seventh, but it was not enough to get past the Lions.
In game two, Mike Moyer (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) matched DeSantis with another gem on the bump. After giving up one run in the first, Moyer shut down the Muskies for the next six innings for his third win of the year.
Behrend's offense did not let up in game two, scoring five runs in the first four innings. DeSantis and Evan Bukowski (Washington, PA/Trinity) each drove in runs in the first two innings. Bittner hit his second long ball of the day in the third to push the lead to 3-1.
After a quiet fifth, the Lions put up a three spot to get a comfortable 8-1 lead. Geibel and James Verona (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) each drove in runs with RBI singles. Moyer limited Muskingum's last effort to give Behrend their third doubleheader sweep of the year.
Kragnes finished the day with four hits and six runs scored for the Lions. Bukowski contributed two singles in game two.
Behrend will be back on the diamond tomorrow at Muskingum. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
