BEHREND CAPTURES EIGHTH AMCC BASEBALL TITLE, ADVANCES TO NCAA TOURNAMENT

The top seeded Penn State Behrend Lions claimed their eighth AMCC baseball title on Saturday afternoon when they defeated No. 2 Alfred State College 8-2 in the AMCC championship game.

The Pioneers got the scoring going early, putting up two runs in the top of the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. However, Behrend countered back, adding five of their own in the bottom half of the first. Dylan Barnes reached first on an infield error then Mac Ciocco drew a walk. Daniel Boehme then singled to left, loading the bases for Thomas Nicely. Nicely singled to left field, recording two RBI as Barnes and Ciocco both scored, knotting the game at two-all. Cadyn Turner had a sac fly to left field, bringing home Boehme as the Lions went ahead 3-2. A Tyler Burick triple brought home Nicely to give Behrend their fourth run of the inning before Hank Shaffer singled to center, plating Burick, and putting the Lions up 5-2 after one. 

Neither team scored in the second inning, but the Lions were able to add another run in the bottom of the third. Shaffer got things going for Behrend with a double to center field, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Chase Palmer then flied out to right field, allowing Shaffer to tag up and score on the play, stretching the Lion lead to 6-2. 

Behrend added two more insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Boehme singled to right field, bringing in Silvio Ionadi for the Lion's seventh run of the game. Behrend capped the scoring in the bottom of the seventh, adding one more run on a wild pitch. 

For the game, Behrend scored eight runs on 11 hits and recorded no errors in the field. Boehme went 4-for-5 at the plate, including two doubles and one RBI. Shaffer went 3-for-4, also with two doubles and one RBI. 

Evan Bromley started on the hump for the Lions, going 5.0 innings, surrending six hits and two runs while recording three strikeouts. Jack Baumgartel threw the final 4.0, giving up just one hit and no runs to go with three strikeouts of his own. 

With the win, Penn State Behrend earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA championship tournament. The selection show will take place on Monday to determine where they are headed next. 

All-Tournament Team
Penn St. Behrend - Daniel Boehm, Hank Shaffer, Jack Baumgartel
Alfred State - Mason Williams, Zack Young, Jordan Hughes
Pitt-Bradford - Trent Bielak, Jake Sherdel
Pitt-Greensburg - James Domer, Tyler Litts
Hilbert - Patrick Evans, Dustin Hendrix
Mount Aloysius - Sidric Grove, Hayden Mallin