May 4, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Michigan State starter A.J. Achter, held the Nittany Lions to just one hit in 7.1 innings of work and a six-run third inning by the Spartans broke open a one-run game as the Spartans took the final game of the weekend series, 10-2. The win give the Spartans the series win, 3-1 and moves them to just a half-game behind Penn State for sixth place in the Big Ten standings and the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament. The Nittany Lions will either be in sixth place alone or tied for fifth once again with Northwestern depending on the results of the remainder of the Northwestern-Illinois series this weekend, which ends tomorrow.
The Nittany Lions were held to only three hits in the game, two of which came in the ninth inning. Penn State scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning on a couple of errors and a Joe Blackburn hit, but an early offensive surge by the Spartans was too much to overcome.
Starter Seth Whitehill was touched up for three runs, two of them earned, on four hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of work. He was relieved in the second by Calvin Grumley, who allowed six runs on four hits and two walks in one inning of work. Paul Hawkins pitched 3.1 strong innings in relief, allowing just one run on two hits, and Mike Lorenston shut out the Spartans in the final three innings, ceding just two hits while striking out two.
The first inning was a rocky start for the Nittany Lions as Steve Gerstenberger led off the game for the Spartans with a solo home run into the rightfield bleachers. After Jonathan Roof reached first on groundball mishandled by Lou Picconi at shortstop, Chris Roberts sent Whitehill's 0-1 pitch over the rightfield bleachers, giving the Spartans an early 3-0 lead. The home run was the first at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to travel completely over the bleachers in right field.
The Nittany Lions were able to add two unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning. Ernst led off by reaching first on a fielding error by Jeff Holm at first base. After Nakata flew out to centerfield, Rob Yodice walked to put runners on first and second for Blackburn, who singled to leftfield, scoring Ernst from second. Wine hit a grounder to second to force Blackburn at second but the throw from the shortstop to first was in the dirt, allowing Wine to reach and Yodice to score from second.
After recording the first two outs in the second inning, Whitehill surrendered a walk and a base hit, putting runners on first and second. He was relieved by Grumley, who got out of the jam by inducing a fly ball to left, keeping the score 3-2.
Michigan State broke the game open in the third by adding six runs to take a 9-2 lead, the first coming on a Kyle Day solo home run to centerfield to lead off the inning. A pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt left runners on second and third with one out. Brandon Eckerle then hit a slow roller back to Grumley, but Justin Potes, who was on third, beat his throw to the plate, sliding in just under Blackburn's tag. Eckerle stole second and Doherty was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Gerstenberger, who picked up another RBI by drawing a one out walk. Jonathan Roof hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield that scored Eckerle, and Roberts drove in Doherty and Gerstenberger with a single to centerfield. After walking Day, Whitehill was replaced by Paul Hawkins who got a fly out to right to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, Potes singled and Eric Roof drove him home with a double to right-center, swelling the Spartan lead to 10-2.
The Nittany Lions put a few runners on base in the ninth with a pair of singles by Wes Borden and Grant Youngblood, but Ryan Boonie grounded into a game-ending 4-3 double play.
Notes: Blackburn made his first appearance of the season at first base in the seventh inning as some subs entered the game and some starters switched positions....Ernst's career-long hitting streak was snapped at 12 games....