| Craig Clark allowed just three runs in seven innings of work but Penn State was shutout by Wichita State 3-0 on Saturday. The teams wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (ET). |
- Box Score
Wichita, Kan.; March 10, 2007 ?C Craig Clark (Phoenixville, Pa.) turned in another solid performance as he allowed just three runs in seven innings of work, working out of a couple of jams to keep the Nittany Lions in the game, but the Penn State offense was kept off the scoreboard by a two of Wichita State pitchers as the Shockers claimed a 3-0 win over the Nittany Lions in the second game of the three-game weekend series.
Clark gave up 12 hits but only allowed three of those runners to come across the plate, two of them on solo home runs. He struck out eight and walked just one as he had good control for most of the game. Wichita State starter Travis Banwart was just a bit better, however, as we pitched seven innings and allowed just five hits and no runs. He struck out nine and walked two. Reliever Noah Booth threw the final two inning, allowing just one hit and striking out four to pick up the save.
Mike Deese (Roswell,Ga.) was the only Penn State player with more than one hit as he went 2-for-4. Matt Cavagnaro (Brightwaters, N.Y.) extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first inning single. The Nittany Lions went down in order just once in nine innings and had at least one baserunner in eight of the nine innings but got only one runner as far as third base.
The game moved along at a steady pace as both pitchers mowed down hitters for the most part in the first three innings. Both teams had one baserunner apiece in both the first and second innings while both teams went in order in the third.
In the fourth, two of the first three hitters of the inning for the Shockers hit solo home runs to left to give Wichita State a 2-0 lead. It may have been more if not for Joe Blackburn (Sinking Spring, Pa.) throwing out a Shocker baserunner trying to steal before the second home run.
In the top of the sixth, Penn State put runners on first and third with no outs on consecutive singles by Blackburn and Cory Wine (Stillwater, Okla.) to lead off the inning but were unable to score as Banwart struck out Rick Marlin (Orlando, Fla.) and Rob Yodice (Staten Island, N.Y.) and then got Deese to fly out to right to end the threat.
Clark got out of an even bigger jam for the Nittany Lions in the bottom of the sixth with only allowing one run. A leadoff double by Matt Brown and a single by Gillaspie made it 3-0. Another single and a walk loaded the bases with no outs but Clark came back to strike out the next three hitters in a row to end the inning and keep the game within reach. Clark got out of another jam in the next inning, inducing an inning-ending double play ball with one out and runners on first and second.
Drew O??Neil (Roswell, Ga.) made his third appearance of the year as he came on to pitch the eighth inning. He did not allow any runs and for his third consecutive appearance, stranded a runner at third base to end his appearance. He still has a 0.00 ERA now in five innings of work.
Scott Gaffney (Westbury, N.Y.)will get the start tomorrow as the Nittany Lions will look to avoid the sweep at 2:00 p.m. (ET).