FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team defeated Martin Luther 6-0 in non-conference action on Wednesday morning.
Mike Moyer (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) picked up the win for the Lions (3-1). The senior pitcher threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine.
The Behrend bats were quiet from the start but found some life in the third inning. Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) came around to score after reaching on a double. The Lions followed the third with a single run in the fourth after a sacrifice fly by Vinny Rice (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) that plated Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's).
Behrend continued to build on their lead in the fourth, putting a three spot on the board. John Hlavinka (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) got the offense going with an RBI single. Kragnes was the next to score after stealing third and advancing home on a throwing error. Bittner capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle for the Lions' fifth run of the game.
Five runs were plenty for Moyer on the mound as he did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. Matt Parnes (Cranberry Township, PA/ Seneca Valley) followed Moyer with two scoreless innings of relief. Parnes struck out four of the six batters he faced.
James Verona (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) and Kragnes led the Behrend offense with two hits each. With a first inning stolen base, Kragnes set a new school record for career stolen bases. The senior outfielder now has 82 in his career, eclipsing the previous mark of 80.
The Lions will be back on the diamond tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Lebanon Valley in Fort Pierce, Florida.