(GREENSBURG, PA:)  After falling 8-4 in Monday's opener against St. Vincent College, Penn State Altoona scored four runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to win game two 9-7 and salvage a split against the Bearcats at Seton Hill College in Greensburg.  The Lions enter Wednesday's home opener against Pitt-Greensburg at 4-8 overall.  SVU currently stands 8-6 overall.

In game one, the Bearcats used a 4-run fourth inning to break the game open while starting pitcher Jared Lapkowicz kept the Lion bats at bay.  Altoona infielders RJ Barnard (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) and Tyler Stiffler (Altoona, PA/Altoona) had a pair of hits in the loss, and Stiffler collected two RBI on two solo home runs. 

Lion starter Zach Darling (Hershey, PA/Hershey) took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits over 3 and 1/3 innings.  St. Vincent got two runs in the first, one in the second, and one in the sixth to compliment its big fourth inning.  The Lions finished with eight hits compared to 10 base knocks by the Bearcats.

Game two featured a combined eight pitchers and saw the Lions battle back from a 3-0 hole by scoring eight total runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  After freshman Gerard Vath (Milford, NJ/Delaware Valley) pitched 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up just four runs, two earned, and striking out seven, junior veteran Paul Keith (Smithmill, PA/Moshannon Valley) entered and threw a flawless 1 and 1/3 innings to preserve the Altoona lead.  Keith eventually earned the win and freshman Kevin Obermeier (York, PA/York Catholic) got the save. 

Barnard, Grady Luzier (Forest, PA/West Branch), Zack King (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional), and Chad Snook (Lewistown, PA/Lewistown) all belted two hits for the Lions.  Senior Tony Petulla (Osceola Mills, PA/Phillipsburg Osceola) drilled a clutch 3-run home run in the fifth inning and also scored a run.

St. Vincent starter Rob Patula was cruising until the decisive fifth inning and was pulled after recording one out in the sixth.  Both teams had 10 hits, and the Lions survived three errors that led to two unearned Bearcat runs. 

Penn State Altoona returns to action Wednesday for a 1:00 PM doubleheader against Pitt-Greensburg at the Ivyside Athletic Field.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu