It's never a good thing for a coach when his team surrenders a 10-3 lead with two innings left.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang seemed to be equal-parts aggravated and relieved after his team's 12-11 victory over James Madison yesterday at Beaver Field. After a 3-2 come-from-behind win in the first game of yesterday's doubleheader against the Dukes, the Nittany Lions (18-21) went up by seven runs with just three innings left in the second game, only to need a run in their final at-bat to escape with a victory.

James Madison (24-21) was in danger of being run off the diamond in the later contest only to explode for five runs in the top of the fifth inning -- on four hits and a throwing error by Penn State first baseman Arin Gelletly -- to pull within two. Facing a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh, the Dukes slugged four hits, including three doubles, to knot the game at 11.

The Lions responded with their own offense in the bottom of the seventh, when right fielder Derrick Barr slapped a single back through the middle -- Penn State's fourth hit of the inning -- to score shortstop Willie Melendez from second base for the game-winner. Melendez went 4-for-4 from the plate in the game and scored three runs.

After the close win, Hindelang seemed exhausted.

"Well, we won," Hindelang said with a sigh. "As much as I got on them after giving up the five-run inning after we were ahead 10-3 and then they tied it up in the seventh inning, I'm just glad with what we did the last inning."

In sharp contrast with the later game, the first game was a well-pitched contest that the Lions won in their final at-bat. Penn State catcher Matt Harter hit a pitch back past the shortstop to bring designated hitter Adam Warchal home to give Penn State a 3-2 lead.

Penn State right-handed pitcher Jared Hopewell threw a solid six innings, allowing just three hits and both of the Dukes' runs. Following the game, Hopewell said all three of his pitches were falling in, an important thing for a pitcher at the collegiate level.

"I felt pretty happy with the stuff I had," Hopewell said. "I thought they were all pretty sharp. Overall they were probably the best I've had in one day."

Both teams were fairly crisp with the bat. James Madison's No. 5, 6, and 7 hitters went 8-for-12 from the plate in the second game and scored six of the Dukes' runs, while Penn State had six hitters with at least two hits.

While the win wasn't necessarily pretty, the two extra games in the win column are certainly picturesque.