Lions Defeat Thiel for Sixth Straight Win

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team defeated Thiel 8-4 on Monday afternoon in non-conference action.

The Lions (18-6-1) pounded out 13 hits, including five for extra bases.

After leading 1-0 after one inning, Behrend struck for a three spot in the second.  With two outs, Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) came through with a two-run double to plate Nathan Junk (Cabot, PA/Knoch) and James Verona (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) who both singled.  Evan Bukowski (Washington, PA/Trinity) followed with another two-out hit to push the advantage to four.

The Tomcats answered with single runs in the fifth and the sixth to cut the deficit in half.  Behrend came back with a big inning to take all the momentum though.  Tommy Kocur (Erie, PA/McDowell) hit a sacrifice fly to get the scoring going.  Following a walk by Kragnes and a base hit by Bukowski, Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) ripped a two-run single to left field.  Ryan Geibel (East Butler, PA/Butler) smashed a RBI double to keep the inning alive, making the score 8-2.

Thiel put together a comeback in the ninth, but Matt Parnes (Cranberry Twp., PA/Seneca Valley) recorded the final three outs to secure the victory.

Justin Wood (Alleghany, NY/Alleghany Limestone) started for the Lions on the hill, allowing just one unearned run.  Jory Okerlund (Smethport, PA/Smethport) picked up the win after getting Behrend out of a jam in the fifth.  Chad Zurat (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Bittner led the offense with three hits and two RBIs.  Bukowski and Geibel both had two hits apiece.  Junk had a career-high three hits, including his first collegiate triple.

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday.  With the recent venue change, Behrend will now host D'Youville with game one of the doubleheader set for 2 p.m.