(ALTOONA, PA:) La Roche College used a 28-hit, 28-run
barrage to power past host Penn State Altoona in an Allegheny Mountain
Collegiate Conference doubleheader Tuesday at the Ivyside Field. The
Redhawks scored nine runs in the final two innings to win the opener 15-8, then
pounded out 14 hits including a grand slam to take game two 13-0. The
Lions fell to 13-19 overall and 6-8 in the AMCC while La Roche improved to 17-11
and 7-7 in league play.
Game one was a classic slugfest as both squads belted 14 hits
and combined to slam four home runs. La Roche led 6-3 entering the fifth
inning when the hosts scored a pair of runs on four hits and a Redhawk error to
cut the deficit to one. Rob Traister (Voorhees, NJ/Bishop Eustace) led off
the inning with a double and scored on a Tony Petulla (Osceola Mills,
PA/Philipsburg) RBI single. Grady Luzier (Forest, PA/West Branch) singled
and eventually scored on a Tyler Stiffler (Altoona, PA/Altoona) single.
The Redhawks responded by blowing the game wide open in the
sixth, scoring six runs on five hits and two Altoona miscues. Only four of
the runs were earned. La Roche held the Lions scoreless in the bottom of
the sixth before tacking on three more unearned runs in the seventh inning.
After the visitors took a 1-0 lead after 1/2 inning, Petulla
roped a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to give Altoona the 2-1
lead. The Hawks' Justin Alessio hit a two-run bomb of his own in the third
inning as La Roche scored three runs to retake the lead 4-2.
Luzier grounded into a bases loaded double play that scored RJ
Barnard (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) in the bottom of the third.
Trailing 15-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, Luzier hit a two-run homer
that scored Petulla, and two batters later, Ryan Pollicino (Mount Union,
PA/Mount Union) blasted a solo shot.
The only people not enjoying the offensive fireworks were the
game one pitchers. Altoona starter Nate Detwiler (Martinsburg, PA/Central)
took the loss after allowing six hits, six runs, and walking four in just three
innings. Reliever Nick Donato (Doylestown, PA/CB West) was also roughed up
in 2 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on five hits.
Redhawk hurler Anthony Cirocco got the complete game win but
allowed 14 hits and eight earned runs while striking out four Lion batters.
In game two, La Roche pitcher Kurt Krejocic went the distance
for the victory, hurling a three-hit shutout and fanning six. His offense
delivered for the second straight game, cracking 14 hits and scoring 13 runs
while committing no errors.
Lion starter Jesse Cox (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) suffered the
loss after giving up 12 runs on 10 hits and walking eight in 4 2/3 innings.
Michael Reale (Ligonier, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic) threw the final 2 1/3
innings of relief.
Every La Roche starter but one had a base hit including Alessio,
who hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fifth inning. One frame earlier,
teammate Keith Borman hit a three-run home run. The Redhawks also left 10
runners on base in the game.
One of the few Lion highlights of the nightcap was a rare triple
play in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second, La Roche
batter Drew Bosco hit a shallow fly ball to center that looked like it would
drop. But Rob Traister made a great diving catch, threw to second to
double up Borman, and RJ Barnard fired to first to complete the triple play.
Penn State Altoona returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April
16, for a non-conference doubleheader at Penn State Harrisburg. The twin
bill is the fifth in as many days for the Lions, which are 4-4 in their last
eight games. First pitch in the state capital is set for 1:00 PM.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
