FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team fell to Muhlenberg 7-6 in non-conference action on Saturday morning.
The Mules (8-3) scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn the thrilling victory.
After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, the Lions (5-3) came back with a single run in the top of the third. Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) started the inning with a single and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) came through for Behrend with an RBI groundout to tie the contest at 1-1.
In the fifth, Muhlenberg took the lead back, but the Lions answered with three in the top of the sixth. After Evan Bukowski (Washington, PA/Trinity) doubled to center with one out, Jordan Weinzierl (St. Marys, PA/St. Marys) clutched up and hit a two-out single. James Verona (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) was next to hit and came up big for Behrend. The senior outfielder smashed a two-run homer down the left field line to give the Lions their first lead of the game.
The Mules found some life in the bottom of the seventh, but junior Chad Zurat (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) stole the momentum. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Zurat recorded three straight outs, including a strikeout and a groundout after the runners advanced one base.
Behrend continued to build on their lead in the top of the eighth. Alex Margraf (Erie, PA/McDowell) started the inning with a walk and advanced to second after Taylor Overby (Nazareth, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt. The very next batter was Josh Barbara (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) who took advantage of a belt-high fastball. Barbara crushed the pitch over the left field fence, putting the Lions up 6-2.
Muhlenberg was not going quietly though and made a huge comeback in the ninth. The Mules started the bottom of the ninth with seven straight singles and capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to erase a four-run deficit and win the game.
Senior pitcher Ryan Jacobs (Port Vue, PA/South Allegheny) took a no decision on the mound for Behrend. After giving up four hits and one run in the first, Jacobs settled down and allowed just one hit over the next five innings. From the second inning through the fourth, Jacobs struck out seven of the nine batters he faced and finished the game with nine strikeouts.
The Lions wrapped up the Florida trip with a 5-3 record and will return to action on Saturday. Behrend will travel to Muskingum for doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
