May 10, 2009
IOWA CITY - Iowa used a four-run seventh inning and a four-hit pitching outing by Jarred Hippen to upend the Penn State baseball team, 5-3. The Nittany Lions won the first two games of the series to claim its first since defeating Michigan on April 10-12.
Scott Kelley (Arlington Heights, Ill.) took the loss for the Nittany Lions, spanning six innings while allowing five earned runs. Paul Cianciolo (Charleston, S.C.) pitched two innings of scoreless ball in relief.
The loss, coupled with wins by Michigan and Purdue, puts the Nittany Lions two games behind the Boilermakers and a game back of the Wolverines with three to go. Purdue has four games left to play with the rubber match of its series at Michigan State set for Monday.
Mike Deese (Roswell, Ga.) continued his impressive weekend, gathering a hit, a stolen base and the team's lone RBI for the game. Blake Lynd (Deer Park, Texas) went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.
Iowa out-hit the Nittany Lions by a margin of 11-4. Both teams turned three double plays.
The Hawkeyes staked a one-run lead in the bottom of the first. Dallas Burke singled to center field and scored on a Ryan Durant double to left-center that was misplayed to allow the first run of the game.
Penn State struggled to move runners along in its firs three trips to the plate. The Hawkeye defense turned three inning-ending double plays, including a bases-loaded two-outer in the third.
The Nittany Lions went aboard for the thirst time in the sixth, scoring two runs to take their only lead of the game. Lynd started off with an infield single and advanced to scoring position via a wild pitch. Deese raked a single to left and both Lynd and Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who reached on a walk, touched home on an errant play by the left fielder.
Iowa scored four in the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-1 lead. Flanagan singled to start the frame and the bases were loaded on two hit-batsmen. The Hawkeyes totaled a bases-loaded walk and two singles to tally their four runs.
Penn State cut its deficit to 5-3 in the eighth. Steranka pulled a misfielded ball down the right-field line and to drive home Louie Picconi.
The Nittany Lions return to action on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. when they host Villanova. They play their final regular-season series of the year when Minnesota visits Medlar Field at Lubrano Park beginning on Thursday. Friday and Saturday's games will on be featured live on the Big Ten Network.