Weyant, Vogel earn AMCC postseason honors
5.14.07
Penn State Altoona baseball players Tyler Weyant and Jeremy Vogel received postseason recognition from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Monday afternoon.  Weyant was named to the AMCC second team while Vogel was selected as a third team all-star.  Matt Stanziano of Pitt-Greensburg won conference Player of the Year honors, and Penn State Behrend freshman Josh Fyffe was the AMCC Newcomer of the Year.  Weyant, a sophomore from Claysburg, Pennsylvania, finished the 2007 season with a team best .398 batting average and .457 on base percentage.  In both statistical categories, he finished among the top 10 in the entire AMCC.  Defensively, Weyant was stellar in center field, recording 49 putouts and committing just one error in 30 games.  Vogel, also a sophomore, earned his second consecutive AMCC award after being named an honorable mention all-conference performer in 2006.  The Altoona native played 33 games for the Lions and hit .344 with 13 RBI and 20 runs scored.  Penn State Altoona finished the 2007 season at 11-25 overall and missed out on the conference playoffs for the first time in school history.  Both Weyant and Vogel will continue on to University Park in the fall to pursue their respective degrees.

Errors loom large for baseball team in loss to Mount Aloysius
4.30.07
Despite leading visiting Mount Aloysius 3-2 after five innings of play, the Penn State Altoona baseball team gave the Mounties three unearned runs in a nightmarish sixth inning en route to their 12th loss in 13 games.  Mount won the seven inning contest 5-4 after falling to the Lions 4-3 just five days earlier.  The Mounties' rally started with two outs and no one on base, courtesy of a walk, hits batsman, and four errors.  Altoona fought back in the sixth as RJ Barnard walked with the bases loaded, scoring Ben Matthews and cutting the deficit to 5-4.  But relief pitcher Nick Friling got Jeremy Vogel to pop out to the catcher to end the threat, and Durell Hutzell-Ellis got the final two outs of the seventh inning to earn the save.  Jon Cleary went the distance for the Lions, allowing just five hits and fanning four.  Mount Aloysius used four pitchers including Ryan Clouse, who started and went 5 and 1/3 innings to get the win.  Clouse surrendered only four hits and fanned eight batters.  The Mounties' Matt Duval led off the game with a solo home run.  The visitors pushed their second run across in the top of the fourth before Lion sophomore Paul Keith hit a towering three-run home run to give the Lions the lead in the bottom of the frame.  Altoona hitters struck out 11 times and left eight men on base, leaving the sacks full in both the second and sixth innings.  The squad dropped to 9-25 overall and finished AMCC play at 5-13.  Penn State Altoona concludes its season by hosting Penn State Harrisburg for a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 1 PM.

Woes continue for Lion baseball squad against Medaille
4.29.07
Penn State Altoona committed seven errors and gave up seven unearned runs in two games as the Lions dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Medaille Sunday afternoon at the Ivyside Field.  The Mavs, who clinched an AMCC playoff berth with the wins, took the opener 6-1 and won the nightcap 12-7.  Medaille received a solid pitching performance in game one from right hander Kevin Maluchnik.  The savvy senior pitched a complete game six hitter to earn the win, allowing one earned run in the sixth inning and striking out five.  He also pitched the final 2 and 2/3 innings of the nightcap to help the Mavs preserve the sweep.  Altoona starter Jared Swancer, one of three Lions recognized on Senior Day, took the loss, surrendering three runs in the first inning and allowing 10 hits over six innings of mound time.  Altoona's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Tyler Weyant singled home Nate Hale.  Leadoff hitter RJ Barnard notched two of the six Lion hits.  In the nightcap, a disastrous third inning in which Medaille scored six runs on only three hits and four Altoona errors proved the difference.  The Lions led 3-0 after one inning before the visitors scored nine unanswered runs.  Altoona senior Brady Waltz worked 3 and 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits.  Jeremy Vogel went 3-4 in the losing effort, and reserve infielder Travis Guthrie belted a two run home run in the fourth inning.  Ryan Amos got the win for Medaille, allowing nine hits and six runs through 3 and 1/3 innings.  Altoona dropped to 9-24 overall and 5-12 in the AMCC.  Phil Keith joined Swancer and Waltz as the three Lion seniors who were honored during game one.  The squad will host Mount Aloysius on Monday afternoon for one seven inning contest beginning at 2 PM. 

Lions eliminated from playoff hunt after pair of losses to Behrend
4.28.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team was officially eliminated from postseason play Saturday afternoon, dropping both ends of a doubleheader to visiting Penn State Behrend.  The visitors won the opener 4-2 before taking game two 4-0.  In game one, Altoona used five consecutive singles to grab a 2-0 lead after one inning before Behrend staged its comeback.  The dagger came in the top of the fourth with the score knotted at two as Behrend shortstop Josh Fyffe, who went 2-3 in the game, belted the eventual game-winning two run home run.  Andrew Chrobak pitched six innings and got the win, scattering eight hits and striking out five.  Closer Ryan Smith had a rough seventh inning but got Altoona designated hitter Mike Pesarchick to ground out with runners on second and third to end the game.  Altoona starter Brian Rostick suffered the loss, hurling all seven innings and allowing nine hits.  RJ Barnard, Jeremy Vogel, and Tyler Weyant all had two hits apiece in defeat.  In the nightcap, Behrend scored one in the first, added two unearned runs in the fourth via three Altoona errors, and got another in the fifth.  The deficit was too much to overcome for the hosts as Behrend starting pitcher Dave Koerbel was stellar, earning the complete game shutout win.  He surrendered just three hits, none after the third inning, and struck our four Altoona hitters.  Paul Keith took the loss, giving up eight hits while whiffing seven Behrend batters.  Altoona dropped to 9-22 overall and 5-10 in AMCC play.  The squad hosts Medaille on Sunday afternoon for a 1 PM doubleheader. 

Lions can't hang with nationally ranked Presidents
4.24.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team stepped out of conference Tuesday to host nationally ranked Washington & Jefferson College at the Ivyside Field.  The Presidents entered the contest ranked 21st in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association Division III poll and showed why from the outset, winning game one 12-4 before taking the nightcap 8-0.  In the opener, W&J batted around the order in the first inning and used a three run home run by Ryan Gregg to cap off the four run frame.  The visitors got one run in the second and third innings and pushed two across in the fourth before the Lions got on the scoreboard.  Altoona did bang 10 hits and four runs, three of which came off a Ross McNeil home run in the bottom of the seventh.  Tyler Weyant went 3-4 at the plate while McNeil, RJ Barnard, and Mike Pesarchick each had two base cracks.  Altoona starter Nate Detwiler allowed 17 hits and 12 runs but only six were earned as the Lions committed four errors in the contest.  W&J starter John Astfalk went five solid innings for the win, scattering five hits and allowing one earned run.  Game two was more of the same as the Presidents used four pitchers to stymie the Altoona hitters throughout.  Tommy Brown got the start and the win as the Lions managed just four hits and left eight runners on base.  Washington & Jefferson pounded out 11 hits and scored in all but two innings.  Barnard again had two hits in the losing effort.  Altoona used three pitchers of its own as Zach Grove started and worked four innings en route to the loss.  The squad dropped to 8-20 overall and returns to action Wednesday when Mount Aloysius comes to the Ivyside Field for a conference doubleheader.  First pitch is at 11:30 AM.    

Lake Erie uses long balls to storm past Lion baseball team
4.21.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team fell to 8-18 overall and 4-8 in AMCC play after dropping a pair of games to Lake Erie Saturday at the Ivyside Field.  The Storm survived a topsy-turvy slugfest to win the opener 14-11 before posting a six run sixth inning in the nightcap to win 7-2.  The two teams combined for 32 hits and nine errors in the opener, seven by the Lions resulting in four unearned LEC runs.  Penn State Altoona held a comfortable 8-3 advantage after three innings only to watch Lake Erie score four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, four more in the sixth, and two in the seventh.  Entering the top of the sixth, Altoona led 9-8 before starting pitcher Brian Rostick was pulled with one out.  Three batters and one run later, John Shaposka hit a three run bomb to give LEC a lead they would not relinquish.  The Lions got two in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a Jimmy Moreland RBI double and Mike Pesarchick run-scoring single.  Pesarchick, Brady Waltz, and Ross McNeil all had three hits a piece in the loss while RJ Barnard and Jeremy Vogel had two each.  Rostick took the loss, working 5 and 1/3 innings and allowing 13 hits and 10 runs.  Storm starter Mark McAlpine pitched five innings for the win, surrendering nine runs on 12 hits.  Dan Shreve worked the final 1 and 1/3 innings to pick up the save.  Runs were hard to come by in game two until an explosive sixth inning by the Storm made the doubleheader sweep a reality.  With the Lions ahead 2-1, the Storm batted around the order scoring six run on seven hits including a Ben reed two run homer.  Two consecutive doubles forced Altoona starter out of the game after allowing nine hits and five runs through 5 and 1/3 innings.  Tyler Weyant was 3-3 at the plate for the Lions, and teammate Chad Snook had two base hits.  Lake Erie hurler Paul Roskos went the distance, scattering just eight hits.  The Lions are back in action Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader with Washington & Jefferson at the Ivyside Field.  Doubleheader begins at 2 PM.

La Roche pitchers stifle Lion bats in sweep
4.19.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team plated just one run in 14 innings of baseball Thursday, dropping an AMCC doubleheader to La Roche in Pittsburgh.  The host Redhawks took the opener 4-1 before blanking the Lions in the nightcap 3-0.  In game one, La Roche hurler Nate Fillip worked 6 and 2/3 innings for the win, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four.  The contest was knotted at one entering the decisive sixth inning when the Redhawks used four hits to manufacture three runs and stake the lead.  The Lions lone tally came in the second when Jimmy Moreland doubled home Ben Matthews.  La Roche avoided a big jam in the inning, however, as Fillip got RJ Barnard to ground out with the bases loaded to end the frame.  Altoona pitcher John Cleary was stellar in defeat, scattering seven hits in six innings of work.  In game two, Redhawk starter Shawn Wright surrendered just four hits over six innings of mound time.  The Redhawks scored one in the first inning via a balk and picked up its final two runs in the second inning courtesy of two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit batsman.  Lion hurler Paul Keith settled in after the rough start and finished with four strikeouts and only six hits against.  Jeremy Vogel had two of the four Altoona hits as the squad left six men on base including three in the third inning.  The Lions are 8-16 overall, 4-6 in AMCC play, and return to action Saturday at the Ivyside Field when they meet Lake Erie.  First pitch of the doubleheader is at 1 PM.

Baseball rides Rostick's arm to split at Bradford
4.14.07
Sophomore pitcher Brian Rostick pitched a complete game four-hitter in game one for Penn State Altoona as the Lions earned a split with host Pitt-Bradford Saturday afternoon.  Altoona took game one 6-3 before Bradford responded to win game two 6-1.  Rostick was the story in the opener as the smooth right-hander allowed just four hits, struck out four, and walked one.  None of the three Panther runs off of Rostick were earned as the Altoona defense committed two errors in the bottom of the sixth that led to the tallies.  The Lions did their damage in the third and sixth innings, scoring three in each of the frames.  Tyler Weyant had three of the nine Altoona hits in the contest, and teammate Brady Waltz smacked two base knocks.  RJ Barnard went 1-4 but had two RBI via a sixth inning double.  Game two was a different story as Lion starter Jared Swancer got knocked out early allowing five earned runs through 2 and 2/3 innings.  Bradford scored three in the first inning, two in the third, and one more in the fifth before Altoona got on the scoreboard.  The visitors only run came in the top of the sixth via a Matt Yankowitz RBI double that scored Barnard.  Penn State Altoona is 8-14 overall and 4-4 in AMCC play.  The squad is scheduled to meet non-conference foe Juniata on Monday at 1 PM.  The doubleheader will be played at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate Altoona Curve. 

Experience, hitting eases Bobcats past Lion baseball team
4.3.07
Frostburg State cracked 30 hits and scored 21 runs in a pair of wins over host Penn State Altoona in AMCC baseball action Tuesday at the Ivyside Field.  The Bobcats handily took game one 12-0 before grabbing another big lead in the second game en route to a 9-4 win.  Altoona dropped to 7-11 overall, 3-3 in the conference while Frostburg improved to 16-9 overall and 5-1 in the AMCC.  In the opener, the visitors scored in every inning but the seventh, posting three runs in the first and third innings.  Junior standout Brian Burke pitched six strong innings for the win, scattering four hits and fanning eight.  He also went 3-5 at the plate, scored three runs, and knocked in another.  Teammate Mike Gitzen was 4-4 in the first game including two doubles and three RBI.  For the Lions, first baseman Paul Dixon collected two hits off of Burke, who had a perfect game into the fourth inning.  Frostburg smacked 16 hits in the contest as three other Bobcat players had at least two hits.  Brian Rostick took the loss and went just three innings, permitting eight hits and seven runs, four earned.  In the nightcap, a seven-run second inning helped the visitors jump ahead for good as Altoona was unable to recover.  Frostburg, who sent 12 men to the plate in the inning, got the final three runs of the frame after a costly Altoona error.  The Lions showed some life offensively, banging out 12 hits for four runs.  Mike Pesarchick and Tyler Weyant each had three base knocks, and senior infielder Phil Keith had two hits.  Jared Swancer took the loss for the Lions, allowing 12 hits and five earned runs over five innings.  Altoona is back on action Saturday as Penn State Behrend comes to the Ivyside Field for a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM. 

Baseball ends Spring Break week with split vs. Anderson
3.15.07
Led by right handed pitcher Brian Rostick, the Penn State Altoona baseball team split with Anderson College (IN) on Thursday in the squad's final day in Port Charlotte, Florida.  Game one was knotted at 3 after seven innings of regulation before Altoona got six runs via four hits and three Anderson errors in the top of the eighth to break the game wide open.  Rostick was the difference maker on the hill, hurling a complete game win and scattering seven hits on the morning.  Paul Dixon, Brady Waltz, and RJ Barnard each connected on two hits for the victors, who roughed up Anderson reliever Grant Choler for five hits and six runs.  Anderson had six errors in the game which led to three unearned scores.  The Ravens took out their frustrations in the second contest, scoring at least two runs in each of the first four innings en route to a 13-0 win.  Anderson pounded out 17 hits and turned three Lion errors into three unearned runs.  Altoona, who used four pitchers in the game, managed just two hits and dropped to 4-8 overall.  53 year old reserve outfielder Jon Wilson saw action in the final innings and recorded a putout in left field before striking out in his only plate appearance.  The team leaves Spring Break week with a 3-7 record, 4-8 overall thus far.  The next schedule contest is a non-conference trip to Mount Aloysius on Tuesday, March 20. 

Lions drop two against Defiance
3.14.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team could not overcome an eight run deficit in game one and failed to hold a three run advantage in game two en route to a pair of losses against Defiance College Wednesday afternoon in Florida.  In the first contest, Defiance got to Lion starter Braden Wickham early, scoring eight runs off the junior lefty in the opening two innings.  Altoona tried to claw its way back and used a four-run sixth inning to cut the deficit to 9-5.  But it was too little, too late as two Altoona errors in the game led to four Defiance unearned runs.  Nate Detwiler pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief for Altoona, allowing just three hits and fanning six.  Freshmen Paul Dixon and Chad Snook each collected two hits as the Lions out-hit the victors 9-6 in the contest.  Game two saw Penn State Altoona grab a comfortable 3-0 lead after three innings before Defiance scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.  The Lions had ample opportunities to tie or regain the lead, none better than in the top of the fifth inning when Altoona had the bases loaded with no one out.  But a pop out and subsequent 1-2-3 double play ended the inning and helped drop the squad to 3-7 overall.  Freshmen Nate Hale took the loss, and Jeremy Vogel and Jimmy Moreland each cracked two hits in defeat.  The squad ends its Spring Break trip by facing Anderson College of Indiana on Thursday morning.

Keith delivers on mound in split with Becker
3.12.07
After committing four errors in an 11-9 game one loss to Becker College (MA), Lion sophomore Paul Keith pitched a complete game, scattering five hits and allowing one unearned run to help Altoona claim an 8-1 win in the nightcap.  In the opener, Becker scored six runs off Lion starter Eric Fashano-Soltis but only one of those tallies was earned.  The Lions clawed back and tied the game at 8 entering the fifth inning before the victors scored three decisive runs to claim the win.  Freshman catcher Chad Snook went 3-3 in the contest, scoring two runs and driving in another.  The Lions left 16 men on base as senior Brady Waltz, who worked the final five innings replacing Fashano-Soltis, suffered the loss.  With a plethora of inexperienced pitchers, Altoona turned to its experienced sophomore in game two.  Keith went all seven innings allowing just six hits and one unearned run in the seventh.  He walked one, fanned four, and threw just 82 pitches.  The Lions offered their ace plenty of help, scoring five runs in the second inning to claim a commanding 6-0 lead after two.  Altoona banged out 13 hits as five different players registered at least two.  The squad is now 3-5 overall and will have a day off Tuesday before facing Defiance College (OH) on Wednesday at 12:00 noon. 

Lion baseball squad swept by Ramapo
3.11.07
Out-hit 33-10 in a pair of games Sunday afternoon in Port Charlotte, Florida, the Penn State Altoona baseball team dropped a pair of contests to Ramapo College (NJ).  Altoona dropped to 2-4 overall.  Ramapo took game one 10-3 before easily snatching the nightcap 16-2.  In the opening contest, the Lions led 3-2 entering the fourth inning before seven straight Ramapo runs broke the game open.  RJ Barnard and Tyler Weyant each had four hits in the losing effort.  Bryan Plummer worked four innings, allowing five runs and nine hits.  Ramapo pitcher Chris Stanisce had a solid outing, giving up five hits and three earned runs in five innings of work.  Game 2 saw the victors jump out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the 1st and score seven more runs in the fourth to seal the win.  The lone Altoona runs came in the bottom of the first when Matt Yankowitz singled home Nate Hale and in the bottom of the fifth when Paul Dixon singled in John Wilson.  Altoona committed a season high five errors which led to five unearned Ramapo runs.  The Lions used five different pitchers who combined to face 40 batters.  Hale and Phil Keith joined Yankowitz and Dixon as having the only Altoona hits of the game.  The squad returns to action Monday afternoon for a pair of games with Becker College of Massachusetts beginning at 12:30 PM.

Baseball opens Spring Break with split against Fitchburg
3.10.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team began a series of 10 games in six days Saturday, opening spring break in Port Charlotte, Florida, against Fitchburg State College (MA).  The Lions split with the Falcons, dropping the first game 4-3 before taking the second contest 10-9 in nine innings.  In game one, Altoona took control early and held a comfortable 3-0 lead before things unraveled in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Four consecutive walks and a hit batsman helped Fitchburg tie the game at three before Shawn Kinney belted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.  Tony Petulla smoked a double and triple and drove in two runs for Altoona in the losing effort.  Jared Swancer, the Lions' starting pitcher, worked a solid 4 1/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits.  Matt Maguire went all seven innings for the Falcons, scattering seven hits and fanning eight.  In the second game, Altoona found itself down 9-4 entering the fifth inning before a late rally.  The Lions got two in the bottom of the fifth, two in the sixth, the tying run in the seventh, and the game winner courtesy a Mike Pesarchick single that scored Nate Hale.  Hale went 3-4 in the contest while Jeremy Vogel, Paul Dixon, and RJ Barnard each tallied two hits a piece.  Sophomore Jon Cleary entered the game in relief and worked 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball to preserve the victory.  Altoona is now 2-2 on the young season and will face Ramapo College of New Jersey on Sunday afternoon. 

Lion baseball team splits with Shenandoah to open 2007 season
3.3.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team made its annual trip to Shenandoah University on Friday, March 2, for a double header with the host Hornets.  The Lions came away with a split, winning the first game 7-5 before dropping the nightcap 13-3.  In the opener, Altoona grabbed two runs in each of the first two innings before Shenandoah answered with two in the bottom of the second.  With the game knotted at 5 entering the top of the seventh, designated hitter Matt Yankowitz and catcher Chad Snook each singled, driving in the decisive two runs.  Yankowitz was 3-3 on the afternoon cracking three singles.  Bryan Plummer picked up the win in relief, working one scoreless inning, and sophomore closer Paul Keith notched the save.  The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two only to watch Shenandoah score the next 10 runs, putting the game well out of reach.  Right fielder Chris Clancy went 3-3 from the plate for the visitors, who used five different pitchers in the game.  Senior Jared Swancer took the loss, working 3 2/3 innings and allowing six runs (three earned).  The squad is 1-1 on the young season and will travel to Port Charlotte, Florida, over the spring break period March 10-15.  Their first game in Florida is Saturday, March 10, against Fitchburg State College (MA).

Lions look to make playoff run in 2007
2.28.07
The Penn State Altoona baseball team, under the direction of 11^th year head coach Joe Piotti, has never missed the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference playoffs.  If all goes well in 2007, the squad will not only continue that streak but also seriously contend for the conference championship, which has eluded the program since 2000.  A crop of veteran returnees and talented newcomers hope to push the Lions to the top of the AMCC, a concept that is well within reach according to Piotti.

"Confidence is very high at this moment," said the Lion skipper, whose team fell to La Roche in the first round of last year's AMCC playoffs.  "We are looking to get off to a good start in Florida, just as we did last year. We have strengthened our weak areas, added key ingredients, and are anxious to make a run at the championship."

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