March 14, 2009
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Penn State stranded 10 runners in a seven-inning, 5-2 loss to Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights swept a doubleheader on Saturday at Florida Atlantic University Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
Rutgers used a five-run fourth inning to earn its seventh victory in eight games. The Scarlet Knights were driven by Dan Betteridge, who batted 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Nittany Lions, which out-hit the Scarlet Rutgers by an 8-5 margin, were guided by Blake Lynd, who reached base on three occasions in the nightcap. Lynd batted 2-for-3 and walked once.
Mike Lorentson took the loss for Penn State, which slides to a 7-8 record, despite not allowing an earned run. Lorentson pitched 4 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked five.
Rutgers scored its only runs in the fourth frame. Jarred Jimenez started the inning by beating out a dribbler to shortstop Michael Glantz. A walk and an errant play in right field allowed a Brandon Boykin single to score the Scarlet Knights' first tally of the game. Two batters later, a Dan Betteridge single to left field yielded two more runs to put Rutgers ahead. It tacked on two insurance runs from Boykin and Betteridge on a Lorentson wild pitch.
Wes Borden stole two bases, scored a run and got on base twice with a hit and a walk.
In his first collegiate start, Ryan Clark doubled for his first career hit. Clark also scored one of Penn State's two runs.
Lorentson held Rutgers in check in by avoiding early runs in the first two innings. The senior southpaw stranded runners at first and second with swinging strikeouts in his first two trips to the mound.
Penn State got an early lead in the third when Borden led off with a single that took a bad hop on second baseman Boykin. Borden stole second before Lynd pushed him along to third with a base hit. After Deese loaded the bases with a walk, Wine notched his 22nd RBI of the season with a single to the left side.
An inning later, Penn State failed to convert with two outs and the bases loaded when Mike Deese lined to centerfield. The Nittany Lions were awarded three free passes from Steven Zavalia.
Penn State cut the lead to three with back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning. Clark doubled for his first collegiate hit, and Louie Picconi belted a drive off the right-center field wall. The Nittany Lions failed to score Picconi when umpires decided Lynd was caught stealing before Picconi touched home.
Drew Irsfeld allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief, while walking and striking out one batter.
Ryan Beard earned his second save of the day, yielding just a Mike Deese single to close out the seventh.
Penn State and Rutgers finish the four-game set on Sunday at noon in Boca Raton, Fla.