PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend baseball team lost twice to the La Roche Redhawks on Monday afternoon. In the second game, La Roche pitcher Tyler Ferguson threw a no-hitter.
In game one, the RedHawks (13-11, 3-1 AMCC) defeated the Lions 7-0 behind a complete-game shutout from Cole Lentz.
After three and a half scoreless innings, La Roche broke through with a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth. Franzee Baralamas opened the scoring with an RBI single, and Sean Lubin followed with a two-run double. Lubin later scored on an error, and Corey Lazor closed things out with an RBI double.
The Redhawks added the final runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth on Colin Williamson's two-run single.
Dante DeSantis (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) took the loss for Behrend (8-6, 0-2 AMCC), going 3.1 innings while allowing three earned runs. The senior struck out three and walked just one batter.
Connor Semple (Washington, PA/McGuffey) came out of the bullpen and pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Nathan Junk (Cabot, PA/Knoch) reached base twice for the Lions with a single and a walk, and Alex Margraf (Erie, PA/McDowell), Jordan Weinzierl (St. Mary's PA/St. Mary's), and Brian Bohman (Erie, PA/McDowell) added the other Behrend hits.
In game two, the Lions fell to La Roche 3-1 as Ferguson pitched a no-hitter for the Redhawks. It was a rare gem made even rarer by the fact that Behrend scored a run and in fact led early in the game.
The Lions got on the board first when Casey Kern (Monroeville, PA/Gateway) hit an RBI groundout in the top of the first. Brandon Bergstrom (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny), who reached third base following a fielder's choice and two walks, scored on the play.
La Roche struck right back in the bottom of the inning. After back-to-back walks and a passed ball, Colin Fiekels drilled an RBI single to tie the game. Cory Podvasnik then scored Brian Tougher on a sacrifice fly to give the Redhawks a 2-1 lead after one.
The La Roche lead was extended to two in the second inning. Baralamas, who reached base on a walk, scored from second on a passed ball to make it 3-1.
The Lions did put the potential tying run in scoring position in the final inning. Corey Bowers (Westlake, OH/Westlake) and Eric Wehler (St. Mary's PA/Elk County Catholic) walked and advanced to second and third on Tommy Kocur's (Erie, PA/McDowell) groundout. But Bohman then flied out and Ferguson struck out Margraf to end the game and secure the no-no.
The junior allowed one earned run, struck out 10, and walked four over his seven historic innings of work.
Justin Wood (Allegany, NY/Allegany Limestone) took the loss for the Lions, allowing three earned in 1.1 innings. Justin Rohrer (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) threw 4.2 innings of shutout baseball in relief.
Behrend's doubleheader at Hilbert on Tuesday, April 1 has been postponed. The Lions are scheduled to host Fredonia on Thursday, April 3 at 3 p.m.
