The baseball team took a weekend off from its Atlantic-10 schedule, but ran into two traditional top-notch teams.

The Lions gained a split with Youngstown State on Saturday, losing the opener 3-0 and winning the nightcap 6-4. But yesterday, Rider swept the Lions 14-3 in the opener and 4-3 in a nine-inning second game.

The second loss to Rider was the toughest to swallow. With two outs in the ninth inning, Rider senior right fielder Eric Garnett stole home and scored as the ball popped out of catcher Travis Crayosky's glove.

It was a cruel twist of fate for Crayosky. The day before he blocked home plate and tagged out Joe Roscoe of Youngstown State, who tried to score on a double by teammate Dave Ifft.

"I had a little bit of time to get my body set and get a good grip in the ball," Crayosky said of the out on Saturday. "I saw it coming and fortunately we were able to come away with the out."

The Lions took a rare first-inning lead in the nightcap yesterday, as Russ Mushinsky hit his third homer of the season. The homer also scored Kody Barto and Ryan Wheeler.

But Rider came back to tie the game and send it into extra innings. With one out in the Rider half of the ninth, Garnett singled. Later in the inning with runners at second and third, Penn State intentionally walked a batter to load the bases. Then pinch-hitter Jason Steinert hit a ball to right field where Eric Gates made a diving catch that held Garnett at third.

Then with a 1-1 count on the next batter, Garnett stole his third base of the game and ended the Lions hopes of a split. Chris Church, 0-1 on the year, took the loss.

Rider pummeled Lion pitching in the first game, scoring six runs in the third inning on way to their 14-3 trouncing. Lion starting pitcher Mark Sherburne worked only one inning as his record drops to 1-3.

In the opener on Saturday, Penguin freshman Brian Wisnewski became the first pitcher to shut out Penn State this season. Wisnewski (3-0), who went the distance, held the Lions to only three hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

"They beat us with defense, they beat us with pitching, and they beat us with timely hitting," Coach Joe Hindelang said.

Jeff Burris (1-2) worked five strong innings in taking the loss. The big hit against Burris came in the fifth, when first baseman Bryan Myers hit a two-run double.

The second game was filled with the dramatics.

Hindelang said, "It had the intensity of a playoff game."

With one out in the sixth and down 3-2, Wheeler singled, then pinch-hitter Gates hit a double that sent Wheeler to third.

"Eric Gates with the pinch hit just lit us up," Hindleang said.

Center fielder Kelby Waltman was intentionally walked. Then Hindelang took a gamble by having Crayosky lay down a suicide squeeze. It was successful. As Crayosky was put out at first, Wheeler crossed home.

Hindelang said, "We struggled for runs, and I just wanted to make them do something."

But right fielder Dave Hall, the next batter, produced the biggest hit of the season so far. He drilled a ball to left, where Ifft was unable to catch it as his glove hit the fence. It was scored a two-run triple, but Hall kept running and scored on a play at the plate. In so doing he suffered a broken nose, but should be ready for this weekend's games with Duquesne.

"When I saw it fall it was like a euphoric feeling," Hindelang said of Hall's hit.

Right-hander Gary Miller made his first start for the Lions since early last season. But Miller left the game in the sixth inning after giving up a two-run homer to Brian Funge.

"I felt a tired Gary Miller was better than any reliever we might have brought in," Hindelang said. "I learned that's not true."

After taking the lead in the sixth, Chris Church gave up a run in the seventh, but got out of a late rally by the Penquins to pick up his first save. Eric Fischer worked 1/3 of an inning to get his second win of the season.

"Youngstown State is one of the best teams we play," Hindelang said. "I'm glad to get the split, being outplayed 12 out of 14 innings."