Box Score Glassboro, N.J. - The Nittany Lions lost a wild 10-5 game to the Profs of Rowan University earlier this afternoon. Penn State Abington scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but gave that lead right back in the bottom of the inning before losing by the five-run margin. Senior catcher Mike Kerns led Abington, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the losing effort.
 
The game certainly started off with a bang for the Nittany Lions (4-10, 0-0 NEAC). A pair of walks by Dustin Kology and Mark McCouch opened the inning, and the pair of Abington seniors each moved up a base when Profs starter Carlos Ruiz laced a wild pitch past his catcher. Then, Bill Parave walked on the second wild pitch of his at bat, scoring Kology and advancing McCouch to third. Ultimately, Parave walked, bringing Kerns up with runners at the corners and still nobody out. The senior catcher delivered once again for the Nittany Lions, singling to second to score McCouch and make the score 2-0 with still nobody out in the inning. Next, it was Dan Hill's turn to get in on the action, singling through the left side to score Parave and advance Kerns to second.
 
Finally, almost mercifully, the inning was over for Rowan's starting pitcher as the Profs made a switch to a reliever. The scoring from Abington still was not over, however. After Tom Ditro reached on a fielders choice, giving Rowan their first out of the game, A.J. Vagliani stepped in and singled to shortstop, scoring Kerns. The Profs were finally able to get out of the inning by recording the next two outs, but the damage had been done. Penn State Abington hadn't even hit the field defensively yet and they were up 4-0.
 
Unfortunately, and shockingly, it was the last time they would see the lead all game. Rowan (6-1, 0-0 NJAC) started the bottom of the first inning by getting their first seven batters all safely on base in some fashion, and by the time the inning was over, the Nittany Lions had given up six runs on just three hits and five walks. What had started out as a promising game now became a struggle with Abington staring at a two run, 6-4 deficit.
 
Once again it was Mike Kerns doing his best to keep Abington in this game. Kerns came up with two on and one out in the top of the second, and again sent a single through the left side to score a run. The RBI momentarily cut the Nittany Lions' deficit to just one run, but the Profs got that run right back in the bottom of the second to get their two-run lead back.
 
An impartial bystander would think that with all this early scoring, these two teams were destined for a 25-24 final score, but by some minor miracle, each team's pitching staff buckled down for the next two and a half innings, with neither side able to advance a runner home. Finally, it was Rowan once again breaking through, extending their lead with a run in the fifth and two more runs in the eighth inning to ultimately cruise to a 10-5 victory.
 
With both sides losing their starting pitchers early on in the game, it was the bullpens who had to earn the victory for their teams, and the Profs' relievers put together a stellar effort. Mike Behar, who came in in the first inning to relieve Cruz and ultimately was awarded the victory, went two innings and gave up just four hits and one run. The final four Rowan pitchers combined to go seven innings, giving up no hits and no walks while striking out nine batters. Abington's bullpen was busy as well, with Connor MacFarlene, Brian Camp, Sean McNeill, and Kevin Faber all combining to give up just two earned runs in eight innings pitched.
 
The Nittany Lions will get a chance to get back into the win column on Friday, when Abington will take on Rutgers-Camden University. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm in Camden, N.J. Be sure to keep checking in on the Nittany Lions progress throughout the season right here at abingtonsports.com.