(ALTOONA, PA:)  Penn State Altoona committed six errors and allowed five unearned runs in a 9-8 loss, then bounced back to defeat Pitt-Greensburg 6-2 in the nightcap thanks to a solid pitching performance by freshman Nick Donato (Doylestown, PA/CB West).  The Lions are now 9-15 overall and 3-5 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while UPG stands 11-8 and 5-3 in the league.

In game one, the Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings before the Lions got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth.  Altoona belted three hits and turned two UPG errors into two unearned runs.  Freshman Tyler Stiffler (Altoona, PA/Altoona had an RBI single, and classmate Zack King (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) beat out an infield single that scored Ryan Pollicino (Mount Union, PA/Mount Union).

Altoona picked up another unearned run in the fifth when Tony Petulla (Osceola Mills, PA/Philipsburg) reached on an error and eventually scored on a Rob Traister (Voorhees, NJ/Bishop Eustace) RBI groundout. 

Greensburg answered in a big way in the sixth, scoring five runs on six hits and two Lion errors to retake the lead 7-3.  But Penn State Altoona would not go away, using a three-run bomb by Petulla to even the score at 7-7 after six innings.

The visitors started the seventh with two straight hits and would quickly plate two unearned runs via two more Lion miscues.  In the bottom of the seventh, freshman Jake Cunningham (Huntingdon, PA./Huntingdon) cracked a one-out single and Pollicino doubled him home to close the gap to 9-8.  But Greensburg reliever Mike Zukowski got the next two hitters to fly out to end a sloppy opening game.

Zukowski got the win after relieving starter Branden Munshower, who allowed eight hits and seven runs, three earned, over 5 and 1/3 innings of work.  Altoona starter Gerard Vath (Milford, NJ/Delaware Valley) pitched well but earned a no decision after hurling 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs, and striking out nine.  Sophomore Nate Detwiler (Martinsburg, PA/Central) threw the final 1 and 1/3 inning and got the loss despite not giving up an earned run.

The Lions turned it around in game two, playing solid defense behind Donato, who scattered six hits through five innings and allowed just two runs.  Altoona did all of its damage offensively in the first three innings, getting six runs off Greensburg pitcher Ben Sorosky. 

Stiffler, Grady Luzier (Forest, PA/West Branch) and RJ Barnard (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) all went 2-3 from the plate in game two, and Luzier tallied two RBI.  Two of the Lions' runs were via a hit by pitch and walk with the bases loaded.

Lefty Kevin Obermeier (York, PA/York Catholic) pitched the final two innings of scoreless baseball for the victors, who out-hit the Bobcats 7-6 and committed two errors in the game.

Penn State Altoona begins a marathon stretch of 10 games in five days beginning this Saturday, April 12, against Pitt-Bradford.  First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1:00 PM at the Ivyside Athletic Field.

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