May 1, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Penn State baseball team was upended by Michigan State, 12-1, to lose their sixth straight conference game on Friday in the first of a three-game set at the new McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.
The Spartans scored seven runs in two innings to break open a game that was hitless until the third.
Bobby Jacobs (West Chester, Pa.) crushed his second career home run, and Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had his 21nd multi-hit game of the season.
Blake Lynd (Deer Park, Texas) reached on three separate occasions, earning two walks on the day.
Michigan State out-hit the Nittany Lions by a 13-6 margin.
T.J. Macy (3-4) took the loss for Penn State. The Boise, Idado native struck out four in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Spartan ace Nolan Moody nearly went the distance, tossing eight innings and holding the Nittany Lions to one earned run on five hits.
Rick Marlin (Orlando, Fla.) secured his team-high 10th double of the season.
After the first two stanzas went hitless for both squads, Jacobs went deep on an opposite-field home run to right field to give the Nittany Lions a one-run lead in the third.
Michigan State quickly responded with one of its one in the bottom half. Three straight bunts yielded a run-scoring single up the middle by Eli Boike.
The Spartans captured their first lead of the game in the fourth on a stand-up double down the right line by Jeff Holm. Michigan State would not relinquish the lead and scored 12 consecutive runs.
Penn State and Michigan State return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich. Fans can listen in at GoPSUsports.com or ESPN Radio 1450-AM in State College. Mike Lorentson takes the hill against A.J. Achter.