April 5, 2008
Pitching coach Bell talks to Loren Crispell after Saturday's doubleheader (mp3)
University Park, Pa. - Michigan took an early lead in game two of Saturday's doubleheader and despite Penn State scoring three runs in the fourth inning, never lost it, taking the third game of the series, 6-3.
Joe Blackburn went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a run scored and Cory Wine tallied an RBI single for the Nittany Lions in their three-run fourth inning, but the Lions were held to just three hits in the game and just seven in the doubleheader as they were outhit 13-3 in game two. Ryan Boonie also notched a hit while Landon Nakata reached base two more times on a pair of walks and in the doubleheader reached base in five out of six plate appearances.
Nittany Lion starter Mike Lorentson surrendered four runs while walking two and striking out two over three innings. He did a good job of limiting the damage as he gave up nine hits but stranded six runners on base. David Lutz pitched well in relief again for the third straight game, allowing just one run on a solo home run by Nate Recknagel and three hits while walking none and striking out two. Paul Cianciolo also pitched two thirds of an inning and gave up one run.
In the first, Kevin Cislo lined a base hit to left before being picked off by Lorentson and getting caught in the rundown by Wine. With two outs, Recknagel ripped a single to right before Putnam and Abraham each grounded singles up the middle to send him around, giving Michigan an early 1-0 lead.
Christian punched a single through the right side of the infield and Berset moved him over with a sacrifice bunt in the top of the second, but that is where he would stay, as Nakata and Picconi each grabbed line drives out of the air for the second and third outs of the inning.
Derek Van Buskirk led off the third inning with a double down the leftfield line, and advanced to third on a Recknagel bloop single just out of Picconi's reach and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Zach Putnam.
Leif Mahler walked to start the fourth inning, and Cisclo faked a bunt before pulling back the bat and slapping a single down the third baseline to put two on with no outs. Paul Cianciolo relieved Lorentson to face Van Buskirk, who dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. With first base open, Penn State gave the intentional pass to Recknagel, the Wolverine's best hitter, loading the bases for Putnam. A close pitch on a 3-2 count missed the inside corner, walking Putnam to force in a run. After a fly out to left, Oaks smacked a single to right, scoring Cislo and Recknagle to make it 5-0. Lutz then came on and struck out Christian on a check swing on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.
Penn State got back in the game in the bottom of the fourth as Nakata and Yodice drew back-to-back walks off starter Mike Wilson. Michael Powers replaced Wilson after the walks to start the inning and Blackburn greeted him with an RBI double to deep left center toward the nook, scoring Nakata from second. Wine followed that up with an RBI Texas League single that fell between the leftfielder, centerfielder, and shortstop, scoring Yodice and leaving runners on the corners with nobody out. Marlin walked to fill the bases for Boonie, who grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but scored Blackburn from third.
After fouling off several of Lutz's pitches in the top of the sixth, Recknagel led off the inning by hitting a solo home run into the picnic pavilion in left to make it 6-3.
Penn State was unable to get anything else off Powers after the fourth as he set down 11 of the last 12 hitters he faced after Marlin's walk in the fourth.
The Nittany Lions will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. with Ryan Stobart taking the mound.