March 11, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. - Penn State put at least one runner on base in every inning but the Nittany Lions were unable to push across any runs as they were limited to just four hits in a 10-0 loss to Miami on Tuesday night at Mark Light Field on the campus of the University of Miami.
Wes Borden reached base twice for the Nittany Lions out of the leadoff spot in the order, drawing a pair of walks. Landon Nakata had a second-inning double to lead off the inning but was thrown out at third on a grounder to short. Penn State would then only get one runner past second base for the remainder of the night.
The Nittany Lions' other good scoring chances came in the first inning. Borden led off with a walk and went to second on Brian Ernst's sacrifice. Rob Yodice then reached on a fielder's choice when, on a comebacker to pitcher Jason Santana, the pitcher threw high to second, putting runners on first and second. But Santana got Joe Blackburn to pop out and Cory Wine to ground out to end the inning.
Penn State starter Mike Wanamaker worked a solid first inning but gave up five runs in the second as Miami got a two-run single from Jemile Weeks and a two-run homer from Yonder Alonso, who went 4-for-4 on the night. They got another run in the third when leadoff hitter Adan Severino ended up with a triple when leftfielder Grant Youngblood tripped on the warning track trying to make the catch. He scored on a single to center by Jason Hagerty.
With Wanamaker's pitch count climbing through just four innings, he was relieved by Mike Pierce to start the fifth. He gave up a solo home run to Hagerty but retired the other three hitters he faced in the fifth. In the sixth, he gave up a triple and a single to start the frame and then after a strikeout, back-to-back doubles to produce two more runs.
Paul Hawkins finished the sixth and worked a scoreless seventh inning. Closer Drew O'Neil worked a scoreless eighth inning, giving up his first hit of the year but still keeping his ERA at 0.00.
The Nittany Lions will head back to the Papa John's Palm Beach Challenge tomorrow and they will face UConn again tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
Notes: Freshman Drew Yukelson, who singled in his first career at bat in a pinch hit appearance in today's first game vs. UConn, entered the game as a defensive replacement and got another single in his second career at bat....Lou Picconi had his streak of nine straight games of reaching base safely this year snapped as he failed to reach base in four plate appearances. Overall, he had a streak of 14 straight games of reaching base safely dating back to last season....Borden has reached base safely in six of seven games that he has played this year.