March 20, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State baseball team rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for its sixth come-from-behind victory as the Nittany Lions defeated New York Tech, 4-2, Friday in the home opener at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Bobby Jacobs jacked a two-run home run and had a career-high three RBIs. Blake Lynd and Cory Wine scattered two hits apiece for Penn State (9-8).
Mired in a stalemate in the bottom of the eighth, Penn State scored two tallies to go ahead of the Bears. Mike Deese started the action with a triple hit to the left-field nook. Wine tapped a double that dropped down the left-field line, scoring Deese. Jacobs added the fourth run with a fielder's choice.
T.J. Macy took the mound for the Nittany Lions and received his second no-decision of the year. Macy pitched seven innings and allowed seven hits and two earned runs. The senior from Boise, Idaho fanned eight batters. Ryan Ignas (2-0) notched his second win in relief. Ignas pitched two hitless innings and retired two. Both Macy and Ignas retired the last 15 Bears to come to the plate.
Matt Doran (0-2) took the loss for the Bears. Doran gave up two earned runs in the eighth while recording one out. Andrew Guarassi started for New York Tech, giving up five hits and two runs in seven innings of work.
New York Tech got a piece of Macy early when three straight runners reached bases on two singles to centerfield and a walk. Christian Dienna sacrificed the first run, and Chris Ruffler singled home the second. Penn State averted a blowout inning for New York Tech when Louie Picconi bobbled a ball and threw it to Jacobs to stop Greg Gilroy at home.
Macy got out of a jam in the fifth after letting a runner in scoring position with no outs. He stranded two by outing the next three batters.
The Penn State bats, dormant through the first four frames with a lone hit, woke up in the fifth when Landon Nakata led off with a single to right-center field. Jacobs creamed his first career home run to left field, tying the game at two apiece.
New York Tech and Penn State return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. in the second game of the three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
GAME NOTES: Bobby Jacobs hit his first career home run...Six of Penn State's nine victories were in come-from-behind fashion.