SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – La Roche baseball took to the road to face Penn State Behrend at Slippery Rock University on Saturday in AMCC doubleheader action. In game one, the Redhawks were unable to hold on after a five-run fourth, falling 8-6, then in game two, a huge seventh inning sealed the win for the Lions, 6-2.
GAME ONE: Penn State Behrend 8 La Roche 6
After a scoreless first inning, it was Behrend coming through with four runs in the bottom of the second to charge ahead 4-0.
La Roche would have a response in the top of the fourth, as five runners crossed to give the red and black a 5-4 lead.
Larry Bielawski opened the scoring as his RBI single drove in Christian Melendez to make it 5-1.
Josh Dreyer followed with a bases clearing triple, as his three RBI evened the score at 4-4.
Brandon Snyder brought across Dreyer with an RBI single of his own to take the lead.
Unfortunately, the Lions would answer, regaining the lead, 6-5 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, then added insurance in the bottom of the fifth, plating two more runners to lead 8-5.
In the top of the sixth of the seven inning first game, Dreyer drove in his fourth run of the game, an RBI groundout that scored Bielawski to make the eventual final of 8-6.
Samuel DiCicco toed the rubber for the Redhawks and in two innings allowed four runs (three earned), six hits and struck out one.
Reed Bursic tossed four innings of relief, allowing three unearned runs, three hits, one walk and fanned three.
Offensively, the Redhawks had eight hits in the game, with Bielawski (3-for-3) and Snyder (2-for-2) both having a perfect first game.
GAME TWO: Penn State Behrend 6 La Roche 2
La Roche took the lead right away in the top of the first, as Dimitri Gary drove in Dreyer with an RBI single to take the 1-0 lead.
Behrend had an answer in the bottom of the first, as a pickoff attempt went wide allowing the Lions to tie the game 1-1.
The red and black took the lead right back in the top of the second, as Casey Jones scored on a Ricky Heyz RBI groundout to make it 2-1, but that would end the Redhawks scoring for the game.
After the pitchers shut down each opposition across the third through sixth innings, Behrend took control in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs to take a 6-2 lead, one it would hold.
Jamison Rhoades got the start for La Roche and across 6.2 innings, allowed six runs (five earned), six hits, five walks and set down nine Lions.
Cameron Mauk relieved Rhoades and in 1.1 innings allowed one hit, a walk and struck out two.
Offensively, the Redhawks could only muster three hits in game two, with Jones and his 2-for-3 leading the way.
La Roche is set to return home on Tuesday, Apr. 16 when they host Mt. Aloysius in AMCC play. First pitch for the 7/9 doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.