NEW CONCORD, Oh. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team worked to a sweep of Muskingum University Sunday afternoon, winning 4-2 and 6-5 respectively.
Game one was a come from behind win for the Lions (5-6). After falling 2-0 through the first couple innings, Scott Sada (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown) roped a grand slam in the top of the seventh to give Behrend the 4-2 victory against the Fighting Muskies (6-7)
To lead things off in the seventh, Justin Foreman (Oakdale, PA/South Fayette) doubled to center field, followed by Zach Murray (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) reaching base on an error to put two runners on. The next batter, Ian Taylor (Wexford, PA/Vincentian Academy) was able to get on base from an error made by the Muskingum infielder.
With the bases loaded, Sada stepped up and laced a homerun to left field, recording four RBIs and leading the Lions to the triumph.
Jack Herzing (St. Mary's, PA/Elk County Catholic) threw a seven-hit complete game in the first game of the double header. Herzing was dealing, giving up the two runs through the first three innings, and then shut the door by tossing six-scoreless innings to end the contest. He struck out a season-high nine batters, while giving only one walk.
In game two on the day, Behrend got on the board early. Taylor hit a leadoff double to start things off. After advancing to third from a Ryan Hamm (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) ground out, Taylor was able to score from a wild pitch.
With the bases empty, David Boehme (Venetia, PA/Seton-La Salle) lashed a double to right field to keep things going. Mason McGuire (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) got to first base from an infielder error, also advancing Boehme to third. The next two batters were walked for the Lions, sending Boehme home for a 2-0 advantage.
After scoring a run in the third, a triple from Sada and single from Boehme contributed to two more runs in the top of the fourth.
Just as the Lions started to pull away, the Fighting Muskies posted three runs in the fourth and two runs in the sixth to even the score at 5-all.
Sada came in clutch again for the Lions by leading off the top of the eighth with a leadoff double. With Sada in scoring position, Hamm hit a grounder to the pitcher and was able to reach second base from a throwing error, also scoring Sada for what was the game-winning run.
With a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Boehme stepped on mound and picked up his third save of the year for Behrend.
Taylor, Sada, and Boehme all went 2-for-5 in the game while Joshua Wagner (South Park, PA/South Park) went 2-for-4.
Brandon Smail (Apollo, PA/Kiski Area) got the win for the Lions, pitching seven innings with five strikeouts and allowing five runs. Ben Ramey (Export, PA/Franklin Regional) got one inning on the mound, striking out one.
Behrend is back on the diamond against Waynesburg for a double-header this Wednesday. The games are at 1 p.m. 4 p.m. respectively.