| Scott Gaffney went 2-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's game vs. Iowa as his batting average continues to rise. |
- Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa; April 7, 2007 ?C Due to the continuing cold weather conditions, Penn State and Iowa played only one game of a scheduled doubleheader on Saturday and in that one seven-inning game, Craig Clark (Phoenixville, Pa.) pitched a complete game, allowing only one run, but the Nittany Lions were shut out by the Hawkeyes 1-0 to even the series a game apiece.
Penn State outhit Iowa 6-4 on the day but were not able to push across any runs. The Nits had at least one baserunner in every inning but much like yesterday when it was Iowa that stranded 11 runners, Penn State stranded 10 runners on Saturday, including five in scoring position. Scott Gaffney (Westbury, N.Y.) and Rob Yodice (Staten Island, N.Y.) each went 2-for-3 on the afternoon and Gaffney reached base in three of his four plate appearances.
Despite turning in another good performance, Clark got stuck with the hard-luck loss. He pitched the six-inning complete game, allowing only four hits and the one run, which was earned. He struck out five but walked an uncharacteristic four, three of which were in the third inning, when the Hawkeyes scored the only run of the game without the benefit of a hit.
In the third, Jason White drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second before going to third on a groundout to second by Dusty Napoleon. Kevin Hoef then drew the second walk of the inning and with Wes Freie at the plate, a wild pitch allowed White to score as he slid in just ahead of Joe Blackburn??s (Sinking Spring, Pa.) tag.
The Nittany Lions cut down two other runners at the plate in the game. In the second, an attempted squeeze play by Iowa failed when Clark fielded a bunt and threw out the runner at home. Then, in the fifth, an attempted double steal was snuffed out by Penn State and Clark once again threw home to Blackburn to nail a runner at home and keep the game 1-0.
Unfortunately for Penn State, however, the Lions were never able to even the score. Twice in the game, they got a runner to third. In the third, Gaffney singled with one out, stole second, and went to third on Cory Wine??s (Stillwater, Okla.) groundout to the right side but was stranded. In the fourth, Yodice led off with a double but was stranded at second when the next three batters produced a groundout and two strikeouts. In the sixth, Yodice singled with one out and Mike Deese (Roswell, Ga.) followed with a walk. Yodice advanced to third on a flyout to right by Rick Marlin (Orlando, Fla.) but pinch hitter Landon Nakata (Honolulu, Hawaii) grounded out to first to end that threat. Penn State was also issued two walks in the seventh but was unable to score.
Due to the weather conditions of today and Penn State??s travel schedule tomorrow, only one game will be played tomorrow to finish the series. For Penn State, it will mark the second straight week that the final game of the series will be cancelled. Tomorrow??s game will also be a seven-inning game due to the Big Ten??s rule that all games must be played in a 9-7-7-9 sequence. For the second straight day, the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes were the only teams to play in the Big Ten.
Gaffney will take the mound tomorrow for the Nittany Lions looking to give Penn State a series win in the abbreviated three-game set.
Notes: Matt Cavagnaro (Brightwaters, N.Y.) reached base safely for the 13th straight game....Despite taking the loss, Clark lowered his ERA from 2.61 to 2.47....The complete game was the first of the year for Penn State pitching.