April 24, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State baseball team was held to no runs in the final six innings, as Illinois recovered from T.J. Macy's perfect game through four, winning 7-3 in front of 3,279 fans at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Friday.
Macy went into the fifth inning without allowing a Fightin' Illini runner on baseball before Illinois totaled four runs. The senior righthander took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in six innings of work.
Ben Heath crushed his first career home run, and every starter in the Nittany Lion lineup recorded a hit. Blake Lynd reached base on three separate occasions.
Ryan Boonie and Cory Wine led the way with two hits each. Heath was the team leader with two RBIs.
Penn State first got on the board in the second inning. After Jordan Steranka opened the frame with a single, Heath blasted a home run to left field for a quick two-run lead.
With Macy on cruise control through four, the Nittany Lions posted their third run of the game with a run-scoring single by Rick Marlin to left field.
The Fightin' Illini used four hits in the fifth inning to go on top by a run. The game-tying run was brought home by a triple to the nook by Willie Argo.
Illinois hit a total of two home runs during the game. Argo led the way with three hits, three runs, three RBIs, a home run and a triple. Aaron Johnson had two hits and a home run.
Phil Haig took the victory for Illinois, settling down after a rough first three innings. Illinois pitching held Penn State to just one hit in the last four innings.
The announced attendance of 3,279 is the third-largest crowd in the history of Penn State baseball.
Tomorrow's game is set for 4:35 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.