Gators Drop Pair to PSU-Behrend

Apr 24, 2007

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College Gators dropped a pair of games on Tuesday afternoon to backyard rival Penn State Behrend, falling 10-2 and 11-8. The Lions jumped out to big leads in both games, and were able to withstand a furious Gator rally in the nightcap to take the pair of games.

The Lions’ offense started strong and stayed consistent throughout the entirety of the first game, scoring at least one run in each of the seven innings. Behrend (20-9) scored one run in both the first and second innings before scoring two in the top of the third inning. The Lions took their lead to 7-0 with a three-run fourth inning before cruising the rest of the way, scoring a single run in each of the remaining three innings, giving the visitors a 10-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Three straight hits from Allegheny (11-18) put the hosts on the scoreboard. The inning started with a single from J.R. Hess (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), which was followed by a triple from Andy Schleihauf (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville), scoring Hess, before Schleihauf scored on a line shot through the left side, giving the Gators their two runs in the contest.

Schleihauf was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, while Hess was 2-for-3, with the pair combining for half of the team’s eight hits. Matt Dishong (Venetia, Pa./Ringgold) picked up the loss for the Blue and Gold, pitching four and a third inning, striking out three, and allowing four earned runs. Scott Rea (Cleveland, Ohio/Rocky River) pitched the final two and two-third innings, striking out four and allowing two earned runs.

Behrend pounded out 18 hits in the game, with leadoff hitter Brian Hart going 3-for-3. Six players, Josh Fyffe, Gabe Stephenson, Tony Kordeki, Dustin Dubensky Jonathan Gray and Zacharey Sullivan each picked up two hits in the contest, as Fran Haus picked up the win, pitching six innings of shutout baseball, striking out six and walking one, scattering five hits in the contest.

After holding the Lions scoreless for the first time on the day in the first inning of the nightcap, the Lions erupted for seven runs in the top of the second inning, scoring on four hits, an error, four walks and a hit batsman. Things looked to be even worse for the Gators, as Behrend loaded the bases and catcher Paul Henry hit a towering blast to left field that Zach Skowvron (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) was able to snag as he reached over the fence, saving a grand slam home run, and keeping the deficit at 7-0.

Allegheny bounced back, scoring a run in their half of the second inning on three walks to load the bases, before a fourth walk to Pete Obourn (Farmington, N.Y./Victor) drew the fourth walk of the inning, scoring Alex Herrnberger (Eighty Four, Pa./Canon McMillan). After the Gators cut the deficit to six, Behrend added four more runs in their half of the inning, three on a bases-loaded double off the bat of Stephenson.

A Herrnberger home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, his second of the season, cut the deficit to nine at 11-2. Back-to-back walks in the bottom of the sixth inning preceded a Hess double, scoring Skowvron and Herrnberger. After another walk by Steve Beckett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum), Obourn doubled down the left field line, scoring Hess. Brian Schmidt (Utica, Pa./Franklin) grounded out to the third baseman, scoring Beckett, as Obourn followed by scoring on a wild pitch a batter later, slimming the deficit to four at 11-7.

Another run on a double-play ball hit by Hess cut the deficit to three at 11-8, but Behrend closer Ryan Smith closed the door on the Gators hopes, securing the Lion victory.

Herrnberger and Hess each pounded out two hits, Herrnberger’s in two at-bats and Hess’ in three, while Herrnberger and Skowvron scored three and two times, respectively. James Fago (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) dropped his record to 0-2 on the season in picking up the loss, as the Gators used four pitchers on the day. Reliever Colt Viehdorfer (Morrisdale, Pa./West Branch) gave up just one hit to the Lions while Justin Abbott (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) did not allow a hit while striking out three, as each pitched two innings.

Four players reached double figure hits for Behrend, as Mike Stetz was 2-for-2, Hart 2-for-3 with Fyffe and Stephenson each going 2-for-4. Eric Nachreiner picked up the win, improving his record to 3-2, with Smith picking up his fifth save of the year.

The Gators next play host to Kenyon College in a four-game series with serious North Coast Athletic Conference tournament possibilities. The first game on Saturday is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.

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