March 27, 2010
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State baseball rallied late in game one and rode the momentum into game two on its way to a doubleheader sweep over Hofstra at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Saturday. In a pair of seven-inning contests, the Nittany Lions tied the score in the sixth inning of game one before winning, 2-1, via their fourth walk-off win of the season. Then, the squad used a five-run sixth inning rally to break a 4-4 tie in game two, on its way to a 9-4 victory. The two teams are back in action on Sunday in the series finale beginning at 12:05 p.m.
The walk-off in game one was the seventh in a Penn State game this season, four Nittany Lion victories. After being shut out through five full innings, the Lions finally got to starter Sean Monaghan in the sixth when sophomore Joey DeBernardis (Lake Zurich, Ill.) tripled to right-center field and scored on junior Ben Heath's (Huntersville, N.C.) sacrifice fly.
Penn State put together a two-out rally in the seventh when a trio of sophomores reached base to send the Lions home winners. After Deegan walked and Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was hit by a pitch, DeBernardis reached on an error to score Deegan for the 2-1 victory. It marked the third time this season DeBernardis has been up to the plate on a Penn State walk-off win.
"We just needed that one win to spark things," said sophomore Sean Deegan (Readington, N.J.) who went on to hit the go-ahead single in game two. "[DeBernardis] got the big hit, which sparked everything and changed the whole mood. It turned everything around. Then in game two, we had the big [sixth] inning. I think we're back on track."
Sophomore Ryan Ignas (North Wales, Pa.) impressed on the mound, tossing his first-career complete game and Penn State's first of the season. He went the distance, throwing seven innings while allowing only one run on four hits for his second win of the year.
The story offensively in game two was DeBernardis, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. He has now recorded multiple hits in seven of his last 11 games with 18 total hits in that span. Heath tied a career-high with three hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI to up his season total to 26. Steranka and redshirt freshman Elliot Searer (Lewistown, Pa.) also finished with a pair of hits.
The Lions scored quickly in game two when Steranka hit a two-out triple to left-center field and scored on Heath's single to right for a 1-0 advantage.
Hofstra responded with a pair of runs in the second, but Penn State came right back with three in the third on five hits to retake a 4-2 lead. Heath scorched a sharp double down the left field line to score two, his 15th extra-base hit of the season in only 19 games. Junior Mario Eramo (Houston, Texas) then plated Heath with a single to center.
The Pride wouldn't give up as they scored a pair in the fourth on a two-run single from John Kenny to even the score at four.
Still tied at four heading to the sixth, the Nittany Lions broke out with five runs on six hits to blow the game wide open. The go-ahead hit came from Deegan, a two-run single to right-center to make it 6-4. DeBernardis followed with his third hit of the game, a two-run double for Penn State's seventh and eight runs of the contest. Junior Bobby Jacobs (West Chester, Pa.) rounded out the scoring with a single to score DeBernardis.
"You just have to grind it out and get back to the basics," said head coach Robbie Wine when asked about the team's offensive outburst. "We talked a little bit about focusing on the positives more than the negatives. You have to find the positives in things and keep your head in the right direction."
The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Sunday for the finale of the four-game series with Hofstra. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. Purchase your tickets today!
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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