March 14, 2010
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Despite an impressive pitching performance from freshman Steven Hill (Colleyville, Texas), Texas State broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the seventh inning on its way to a 5-4 win over the Penn State baseball team on Sunday. The Nittany Lions came back from three different deficits, but could never get over the hump as the Bobcats walked off with the win in the bottom of the ninth. Penn State returns to action on Friday at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Winthrop University.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth inning, it looked like the Lions would stage a rally, but a hard-hit ball from senior Louie Picconi (North Merrick, N.Y.) hit Johnson at first base. Penn State then got runners on second and third with only one out in the ninth, but Carson Smith induced junior Mario Eramo (Houston, Texas) to ground out, scoring sophomore Joey DeBernardis (Lake Zurich, Ill.). Freshman Steve Snyder (West Chester, Pa.) followed with a chopper to the right side, which Tyler Sibley bobbled, allowing Snyder to beat out the infield single and sophomore Sean Deegan (Readington, N.J.) to cross the plate with the tying run.
Texas State came right back with the final blow in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the win, the fourth walk-off in a Penn State game this season, two finishing in the Lions' favor. After Kyle Livingstone walked, Jason Martinson hit a one-out single to left field. Shaun Garcia followed with an RBI single to center to plate Livingstone.
Hill dazzled on the mound, tossing the first six innings while only allowing two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Snyder and junior Heath Johnson (Alamagordo, N.M.) each had a pair of the Lions' eight hits. Sophomore Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up the other RBI via a single in the third inning.
Following two scoreless frames, Penn State took its first lead of the series in the third inning behind an RBI single from Steranka to plate Johnson.
The Bobcats came back with two in the bottom of the inning for a 2-1 advantage. Bret Atwood scored the first run following a wild pitch. After Kyle Kubitza struck out, Martinson hit a two-out double to right-center field to plate Livingstone.
Snyder walked with one out in the fifth inning and advanced all the way to third on a wild pickoff attempt. Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly to even the score at two.
Texas State plated a pair in the seventh to retake a 4-2 advantage. Laurn Randell crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the Bobcats' third run. Martinson drove in the second run via an RBI groundout to score Sibley.
The Nittany Lions return to action at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Winthrop. Action kicks off on Friday at 11:00 a.m. against Kent State.
Season and individual game tickets are now available can be purchased online or over the phone. Please call 1-877-997-7453 or (814) 272-1711, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. for more information. Fans can also direct any additional questions or comments via phone, or by email (psubaseball@athletics.psu.edu).
Baseball camp information is now available. Call the Sports Camp Office at (814) 865-0561 or email them at SportCampInfo@outreach.psu.edu for more information.
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