Lions Swept by Waynesburg

WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team fell twice to Waynesburg in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon.  The Jackets kept the Lions off the board in the game one, winning 3-0 before completing the sweep with a 10-3 game-two victory.

Playing as the home team on the Waynesburg diamond, the Behrend offense was quiet in the opening game.  The Jackets got on the board early with two runs in the first, which was plenty of support for pitcher J. Jay Paskert who allowed eight hits, but no walks or runs to pick up the win.

Dante DeSantis (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) was almost as effective, giving up just three runs to go with six strikeouts, but the bats just could not put together enough runs to catch Waynesburg. 

Evan Bukowski (Washington, PA/Trinity) led the offense with three hits.  Vinny Rice (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) also had a good day at the plate with a pair of singles.

In game two, a big third inning for the Jackets proved to be the difference maker.  Waynesburg was leading 1-0 in the top of the third and managed to plate six runs to take command.  The Jackets put two more on the board in the fourth and one in the sixth to earn the win.

The Behrend offense found some life in the bottom of the sixth.  Matt Wolczko (Apollo, PA /Kiski) drove in his first career run with a single through the left side.  The freshman outfielder was the only Lion with multiple hits in the second game.  Behrend started to mount a comeback in the last of the seventh with two runs, but the rally fell short.  Nate Liddle (DuBois, PA/DuBois) and Nathan Junk (Cabot, PA /Knoch) each registered one RBI for the Lions.

Behrend will be back on the diamond tomorrow at Gettysburg.  Game on is set to begin at 1 p.m.