The Moravian College baseball team closed its trip to the 2011 RussMatt Baseball Central Florida Invitational with a doubleheader sweep of Penn State University-Altoona, capturing the first game 4-3 and taking the second contest 7-4, at Chain of Lakes Park Friday.

Penn State-Altoona took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the opening game. Outfielder Jimmy Baum was hit by a pitch to start the game and scored on an RBI single from outfielder Cord Heine while the Lions other run came on a Moravian error, one of five in the game for the Greyhounds.

Moravian tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second. Senior outfielder Mike Zubia led off with a single and scored on an RBI single from junior designated hitter Gregg Steinman, pictured at right. Senior second baseman Jake Schweitzer singled after Zubia and tied the game on an RBI fielder's choice by sophomore outfielder Rocco Del Priore.

The Greyhounds would take the lead in the bottom of the third in the bottom of the third inning when Zubia tripled with two outs and scored on an RBI single from Schweitzer.
Penn State-Altoona would tie the game again in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Baum.

The contest would remain 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh. Senior third baseman Jon Baltz led off with a single, and junior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe reached on an infield single. Zubia was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Schweitzer hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Baltz and end the game.

Moravian had a 9-5 edge in hits in the first game with Zubia and Schweitzer each going two-for-three. Baltz was two-for-four for the Greyhounds while Heine was two-for-three for the Lions.

Junior Brendan Close improved to 3-0 on the mound for Moravian, allowing three runs, just one earned, on five hits, and Close struck out seven batters while not allowing a walk. Close moved into second place in school history with his 15th career win. Trevor Conner took the loss for Penn State-Altoona with a complete game.

In the second game, Moravian jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Baltz singled with one out, and O'Keefe followed with a single. Zubia then hit a two-RBI triple to score Baltz and O'Keefe while senior designated hitter Jacob Millen hit an RBI single to score Zubia.

The Greyhounds pushed their lead to 4-0 with a run in the top of the fourth inning when Del Priore drew a walk to start the inning and scored on an error.

Penn State-Altoona answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI double from second baseman Josh Wyandt.

Moravian added two runs in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 6-1. O'Keefe led off with a double and scored on an RBI double from Schweitzer, and Schweitzer crossed the plate on an RBI double from junior catcher Austin Rock.

The Greyhounds scored their final run in the top of the seventh O'Keefe led off with a double and score on an RBI pinch hit double from freshman Edwin Balcarcel.

Penn State-Altoona would make things interesting with three runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from shortstop Nate Bennett and a two-RBI double by outfielder Ken Terpack.

Moravian had a 12-10 edge on hits in the second game with O'Keefe going three-for-four with three runs and a pair of doubles. Schweitzer was two-for-three for the Greyhounds while senior outfielder Jason Huber was two-for-four. Wyandt was two-for-two for the Lions while Baum and first baseman Grady Luzier were both two-for-four.

Sophomore Frank Trautz made his first collegiate start on the mound for Moravian, earning the win after allowing four runs, just two earned, on ten hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Penn State-Altoona used four pitchers with Chris Keeler suffering the loss.