Lions Take Two From Altoona

ERIE, Pa. - The Penn State Behrend baseball team swept Penn State Altoona 5-1 and 7-1 in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

In game one, the Lions (17-6-1, 7-0-1 AMCC) used a big second inning to get by Altoona.

With the score tied at 1-all, Behrend struck for four runs in the second to take command. After Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) hit a sacrifice fly, Ryan Geibel (East Butler, PA/Butler) smashed a two-run double, pushing the lead to three.  Ryan Finnegan (Fombell, PA/Riverside) followed with an RBI double of his own to give the Lions a 5-1 lead.

That was all the scoring Behrend needed with Dante DeSantis (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) on the hill.  DeSantis was brilliant, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing just one run, and striking out eight.  Chad Zurat (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) put an end to a late rally attempt by Altoona with two strikeouts to end the game.

Another big inning propelled the Lions in game two.  Heading into the fifth with Behrend leading 2-1, Geibel crushed a grand slam off the scoreboard to give the Lions all the momentum.  

Jory Okerlund (Smethport, PA/Smethport), Jay Condit (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley), and Connor Semple (Washington, PA/McGuffey) all pitched effectively out of the pen. The trio only allowed one hit in 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Bittner and Geibel each had three hits on the day.  Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) contributed three hits as well, with four runs scored, and three stolen bases.

Behrend will be back in action on Monday for a non-conference game against Thiel. First pitch at the Behrend Diamond is scheduled for 2 p.m.