(ALTOONA, PA:)  Penn State Altoona hung on for a 4-3 victory over visiting Waynesburg University in game one before the Yellow Jackets got their revenge in a 14-3 game two thumping Thursday at the Ivyside Field.  With the split, the Lions have an overall record of 7-11 while Waynesburg checks in at 11-12 overall.

The Lions jumped on Jackets starter Tim Knight, scoring three runs in the first inning including a pair of RBI doubles from Tony Petulla (Osceola Mills, PA/Philipsburg) and Grady Luzier (Forest, PA/West Branch).  Freshman Rob Traister (Voorhees, NJ/Bishop Eustace) brought in the third run on an infield single to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

Altoona starting pitcher Nate Detwiler (Martinsburg, PA/Central) was superb, scattering six hits in five innings and allowing just one run.  Waynesburg got its first run of the game in the third inning when Brandon Dittmar walked with the bases loaded.  The Lions got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Tyler Stiffler (Altoona, PA/Altoona) reached on a fielders choice that scored Petulla.

Staff ace Paul Keith (Smithmill, PA/Moshannon Valley) overcame a leadoff error to work a scoreless sixth inning before things got interesting in the seventh.  Lefty Kevin Obermeier (York, PA/York Catholic) got the first two batters in the Waynesburg seventh before allowing a walk followed by a two-run home run to Dan Novak, cutting the Altoona lead to 4-3.  Obermeier walked the next batter but got Adam Denman to ground into a game-ending fielders choice.

Petulla went 3-3 at the plate and scored two runs, and Luzier and Traister each had a pair of hits.  Detwiler picked up his second win of the season, and Obermeier got his second career save.

Game two saw Penn State Altoona commit six errors that gave Waynesburg eight unearned runs.  The Jackets plated two in the first inning, three in the third, two in the fourth, four in the fifth, and two more in the seventh. 

Altoona banged out 11 hits but managed just three runs.  Lion starter Zach Darling (Hershey, PA/Hershey) was chased after surrendering seven runs in 3 and 1/3 innings.  Zack King (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional), RJ Barnard (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg), and Petulla all had two hits in the losing effort, and King scored two runs. 

Waynesburg right fielder Scott Cree went 4-5 at the plate and had two RBI.  Jesse Cox (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) and Nate Hale (Duncansville, PA/Central) combined to pitch the final 3 and 2/3 innings of relief for Altoona, giving up a total seven runs and eight hits.

Penn State Altoona is back in action Saturday when it travels to AMCC rival Penn State Behrend.  First pitch of the twin bill is set for 1:00 PM in Erie.

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