ALTOONA, Pa. – La Roche baseball returned to AMCC play on Tuesday afternoon, facing off against Penn State Altoona in doubleheader action. In game one, the Lions got the best of the Redhawks, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel, while in game two, the offenses put on a show, as the Redhawks would fend off the Lions, 7-6.
GAME ONE: Penn State Altoona 2 La Roche 1
Pitching was the star of game one, as it took six innings for either team to plate a run.
La Roche had chances in the top of the first, third and fifth innings, but would leave a runner stranded at second with two outs each time.
The Redhawks would finally pull through in the top of the sixth, as Casey Jones drove in Dimitri Gary with a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 and the only run to cross for La Roche.
Altoona would tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single, then in the bottom of the seventh, walked it off after a Redhawks error ended the game.
Larry Bielawski got the start for La Roche and in six innings allowed one run, seven hits, three walks and struck out five, while earning the no decision.
Reed Bursic took the loss in relief, throwing 0.1 inning and allowing one run, one hit, one walk and struck out one.
Offensively, the Redhawks had eight hits in the game with Gary and Cameron Mauk each having a 2-for-3 opener.
GAME TWO: La Roche 7 Penn State Altoona 6
The Lions wasted no time opening the scoring of game two, plating three runs in the bottom of the first to build an early edge.
A single, wild pitch and sacrifice fly built the 3-0 lead for Altoona in the very early stage of the game.
La Roche had a response in the top of the second, as Josh Dreyer belted his first home run of the campaign, trimming the deficit to 3-1.
Gary moved the Redhawks a run closer in the top of the third, as his sacrifice fly drove in Bielawski to move the score to 3-2.
La Roche completely turned the tides in the top of the fourth when Caden Maffitt doubled in Ricky Heyz to tie the game.
After Maffitt moved to third on a wild pitch, Dom Brncic doubled himself to score Maffitt and give the Redhawks a 4-3 lead.
Biewalski drew a walk on a wild pitch that moved Brncic to third, then stole second, Samuel DiCicco closed the four-run innings with a two RBI single as La Roche then doubled up Altoona, 6-3.
Heyz would produce the final run of the game for the Redhawks in the top of the fifth, as his sacrifice fly scored Brandon Snyder to make it 7-3.
The Lions wouldn't go away easily though, scoring a run to make it 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double, then scored a pair in the bottom of the eighth, trimming the deficit to the eventual final after a pair of bases loaded walks.
Jones toed the rubber for La Roche and allowed six runs, nine hits, five walks and fanned 11 across 7.2 innings to pick up the win.
Jamison Rhoades was awarded the save, throwing 1.1 innings, allowing a single hit, two walks and set down two.
The La Roche offense collected eight hits in game two with Dreyer's 3-for-4 leading the way. Brncic and Maffitt each recorded two hits, as the trio combined for seven of the eight hits.
The Redhawks return to non-conference action tomorrow, Wednesday, Apr. 10 when they host Chatham. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.