Fort Pierce, FL – No. 12 Alvernia used a dominating pitching performance to get past the Penn State Behrend baseball team 5-2 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

The Lions' (2-2) offense struggled but strong defense and pitching kept the game close.

Shane Stauffer (Bakerstown, PA/Pine-Richland) started on the bump for Behrend, striking out four through 3.2 innings.  The junior pitcher was solid early, only giving up one run. 

After five complete innings, the Lions only had two hits but were still only down 2-0.  In the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Finnegan (Fombell, PA/Riverside) recorded his first collegiate RBI, driving in Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) who tripled to deep left center field.

The Crusaders (3-4-1) answered with an insurance run in the seventh to push the lead back to two.  The Lions would not go away though.  In the eighth, Tommy Kocur (Erie, PA/McDowell) led off the inning with a hit by pitch.  Two batters later, Finnegan singled to right field to score Kocur and cut the deficit back to one.  However, Alvernia turned a clutch 5-4-3 double play to end the rally.

In the ninth, the Crusaders scored two more and shut down the Lions in their last at bats to earn their third victory of the season.

Kragnes led Behrend with a 3-for-3 day, scoring one run and swiping a bag.  Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's) also had a multi-hit game with two singles and a stolen base as well.

The Lions will be back on the diamond Thursday for a doubleheader against Northwestern (Minn).  Game one starts at 10 a.m.