Until yesterday, the baseball team (8-12) probably wished it could start a game in the second inning.

But against Lock Haven (1-13), the Lions received two outstanding pitching performances from beginning to end in their doubleheader sweep. Penn State won the opener 7-2 and took the nightcap 4-2. Freshman right-hander Dean Kerns (1-1) and junior left-hander Chris Cisar (1-1) both went the distance for the first two complete games of the season. They also only gave up a total of one run in the first inning, the 29th run an opponent has scored in the opening frame this season.

"I was a little jittery being my first start," Kerns said.

"I didn't have the confidence until the third or fourth inning," Cisar added. "I felt I was pretty much in control from then on."

The highlight in the first game was Ray Lopez, who tied a school record with four stolen bases. Ironically, Lopez didn't have a base hit in the first game, as he received three walks and scored three runs.

"He's just getting better the more he plays," Coach Joe Hindelang said.

The speed of Lopez helped the Lions tie the game in their half of the first. Trailing 1-0, Lopez walked and stole second. He moved to third on an attempted pick-off by Bald Eagle pitcher Rob Wright. After an infield single by Kody Barto, Lopez scored on a botched up double-play ball off the bat of Ryan Wheeler.

Wheeler and Barto combined for five RBI in the first game, and each scored a run. Wheeler scored Barto on a double in the third to give the Lions the lead for good. Wheeler would later score that inning off a double by Dave Hall. The Lions scored two more in the fourth on a two-run double by Barto.

Lock Haven came back with one in the fifth, when Erick Kozak hit into a double play that scored Rick Huston. The Lions answered with two more runs in the sixth. Lopez once again lead the assault with two stolen bases in the inning. He scored when Barto hit a ball to the shortstop, who made an errant throw to home trying to get Lopez out. Barto wound up at third, and scored on a base hit by Wheeler.

In going the distance, Kerns struckout six, issued four walks, and gave up one earned run.

"Dean was a key recruit by (assistant coach) Randy Ford," Hindelang said. "To pitch the first complete game, it's a wonderful thing."

Cisar was equally impressive in the second game. The former closer struck out seven and walked one.

"It's a totally different role," Cisar said. "I've got to get used to it."

But, the southpaw comitted a throwing error in the second inning, that led to Lock Haven's only two runs of the game. Chris Buzzi, who was playing second for the flu-bitten Russ Mushinsky, also had a throwing error in the same inning. Buzzi also saw his 11-game hitting streak ended.

Down 2-0, Penn State tied the game in the third, as Scott Biesecker singled home Lopez and Barto scored on a passed ball. The Lions scored the final two runs of the game in the fifth. Eric Gates sacrificed in Barto and Hall singled home Biesecker.

The Lions will host Youngstown State at 1 p.m. afternoon and travel to Rider on Sunday. Both are doubleheaders.