Box Score MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Gators combined for 13 hits, improving their winning streak to eight games with a 9-3 victory over Penn State Behrend to open the 2013 home campaign at the Robertson Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Allegheny plated five runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to take an 8-2 lead, which allowed freshman Keegan White enough cushion in his home debut.  The Allegheny starter picked up his first collegiate victory, pitching seven innings while allowing three runs on six hits, striking out two batters.

Offensively, the Gators were led by sophomore Eric Weyant, who batted 2-for-3 and tallied a team-high three RBI.  Senior Frank Triozzi also picked up two hits, driving in a pair of runs and adding a stolen base.  Seniors James Kim and Mike Kastelic along with junior Kyle Davis added two hits a piece while freshman Joe Killian and junior Mike Pezzone tied for the team-high by scoring two runs.

Behrend struck first in the top of the second, as back-to-back hits allowed the Lions to score the first run of the game with two outs.

In the fourth, Davis reached first after being hit by a pitch and the Gators loaded the bases after a single by Kastelic and a walk to Killian.  Kim dropped a single into right field to tie the game with one out and Pezzone gave the Gators their first lead of the game with a sharp groundball to the third baseman, who threw errantly to the left of the catcher, allowing Kastelic and Killian to score.

A sacrifice fly from Weyant and a hit to center from Triozzi built the Allegheny lead to 5-1 before the end of the frame.  Behrend responded with a run in the fifth but the Gators loaded the bases with no outs, as Kastelic scored on an error by the second baseman.  The offensive barrage continued with a single to left center by Weyant and a single through the right side by Triozzi that brought in two more Allegheny runs.

In the seventh, a double down the left field line by Pezzone scored Weyant to give the Gators their ninth run of the game.  Sophomore Paul Vojtek entered the game in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced in order, not allowing a hit while clinching the win for the Gators.

Allegheny will travel to Oberlin this weekend to take on the Yeomen in a four-game, North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) series.  The first game will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 13.