ALTOONA, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona baseball team struggled in an explosive game one, but rebounded nicely in game two as the Lions split a pair of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference games against Penn State Behrend Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field.  Behrend claimed an impressive 26-14 victory in the first game, but Altoona closed the double-header with a 6-5 win of its own.

In game one, the two teams combined for 33 hits and 10 errors, and Behrend scored runs in all but one inning of play.  The visiting Lions used a seven-run third inning and 10-run fifth inning to blow the game open.

Grady Luzier (Forest, PA/West Branch) cracked a three-run shot to left center in the bottom of the first to get Altoona rolling, and Cord Heine (Malvern, PA/Mercersburg) cracked a pair of two-run homers in the game, one to straight center and the other to deep left field.   

Behrend's Josh Fyffe blasted three home runs on three consecutive at-bats and ended the game 3 for 5 with seven RBI.

Behrend chased Altoona starter Mike Myers (Boiling Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) after 2 1/3 innings after Myers allowed nine hits and 11 runs during his time on the mound.  Behrend's David Koerbel got the win after registering seven strikeouts in his full four innings of pitching.

In game two, Altoona tamed Behrend's bats with starter Paul Keith (Smithmill, PA/Moshannon Valley), who pitched a complete game for the hosts.  Behrend was unable to score in four of Keith's seven innings, and he finished the game allowing 12 hits and striking out five.

After Altoona trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Heine added a third home run on the day to put Altoona up 3-2.  Behrend's Dave Miller would respond by hitting a three-run shot of his own in the fifth, but Altoona's John Schall (Snow Shoe, PA/Bald Eagle) would put the Lions up for good when he batted in two runners in the same inning.

Heine and Schall each had two RBI, and Jim Byers (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) ended the game going 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.

Penn State Altoona is back in action this Tuesday, April 7, when the team travels to Waynesburg University.  Game time is set for 1:00 PM.