MARIETTA, Ohio — Don't look now, but seventh-seed Penn State-Behrend is 2-0 and sitting pretty in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Saturday (May 20, 2010) at Marietta College's Don Schaly Stadium.

Getting there wasn't easy, though, as the Lions (31-15) had to fend off a ninth-inning rally by Thomas More and hold on for a 7-6 victory. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

"There really isn't any pressure on us. If we lose that's what everyone expects," said Behrend catcher Evan Bukowski. "We're the underdogs. We have nothing to lose."

If Behrend wants to continue its miraculous run in the regional the Lions will have to get by top-seed Heidelberg at 1 p.m. Friday.

"There's no doubt we're enjoying it, but I mentioned to the team that we still have to be learning. We still need to learn so we can continue to develop these young athletes," said Behrend coach Paul Benim. "We don't want to get caught up in the euphoria of being 2-0."

Senior starter Steve Miller (6-3) provided the Lions some spark with a gutsy performance. He scattered eight eights and walked six, but held the Saints (32-15) scoreless for five innings after allowing two runs in the first.

"Our goal was to try to come out here and grind one out," Benim said. "(Thomas More's Grant Lewis) threw a nice game. It was fortunate for us to have a senior step up and give us the game of his life."

Miller started the ninth inning, but he gave up back-to-back hits to Ryan Darner and Nick Zeiser and then walked Brandon Nutini before being pulled for Andy Kountz.

"Steve has made good starts and given us a chance to win, but he doesn't normally go deep. It was his day and he earned it," Benim said. "I had to go out once and get him straight. I told him 'Your mom and dad drove all the way here to see you do well, so you need to give it up today for yourself and your teammates.' "

With Behrend leading 7-3, Kountz got the first batter out before walking home a run. Benim then turned to Jay Condit to finish off the game. He struck out the first batter, but then gave up a two-run single to Marty Kersting that shrunk the Lions' lead to just one run.

But Condit closed it out for his first save of the season when he induced Sam Schmeltzer to fly out to center.

"We're not going to quit. That's the one thing with this team," said Thomas More coach Jeff Hetzer. "It's just disappointing that we had to blow up in the eighth."

Hetzer was referring to Behrend's four-hit, three-run eighth.

"It was just bad pitches. If you hold them to 5-3 we win. We bring our reliever in and we win," Hetzer said. "We didn't want to go to (Kyle) Wewe again unless a true save situation."

Thomas More is back in action at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow against Adrian.