ERIE, Pa. – 14 runs on 17 hits in game one against Penn State Behrend powered the Gators (11-13, 3-5 NCAC) to a game one win, 14-8, but they were held off the scoreboard in game two losing to the Lions 1-0 for the split in a non-conference tilt on Thursday afternoon.
Game one, a wild high-scoring affair, saw both teams combine for 22 runs on 25 hits.
A RBI single in the top of the first inning in game one by Matt Stahl got the Gators started early, but the Lions answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. After platting a pair of runs in the top of the third tied the game at three-all, the Lions jumped back on top 4-3 with a single run in the bottom half.
Seven base hits, all singles, resulted in six runs in the top of the fourth inning as the Gators took their largest lead of the game, 9-4. Three more Gator runs in the fifth, and a pair of runs in the sixth would stake the Gators to their 14-run output.
The top four batters in the Gators' lineup had at least two hits and a RBI, with three of the four recording three hits and multiple RBI. Out of the third spot in the order, junior catcher Ben Lowmaster went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Stahl was also 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Rookie Brandon Ellis come into the game in the bottom of the third inning, and worked the next three innings during the offensive surge to earn his first collegiate win.
Game two was the polar opposite to game one with only one run and 11 hits showing on the scoreboard by the final out.
The lone run of the nightcap came in the bottom of the fourth inning on a one-out RBI single off of Gators' starter Frank Brank. After 17 hits in game one, the Gators' bats were held in check to the tune of just four hits by Lions' starter Andy Kountz. Two of the four hits came from the bat of Lowmaster. On the afternoon, Lowmaster was 5-for-7 with four RBI.
Next up for the Gators is a key pair of conference doubleheaders over the weekend. The big weekend starts at home on Saturday, April 16th against Kenyon College and ends on Sunday on the road against Hiram College. Both double-dips are slated to start at 1:00 p.m.