March 30, 2010
BUY TICKETS TO WEDNESDAY'S GAME
Box Score | Season Stats | Wed. Coverage: | 1450 AM (ESPN Radio) |
KENT, Ohio - Despite battling back from an early deficit, the Penn State baseball team couldn't hold on as it dropped a 9-8 final to Kent State on Tuesday afternoon. Seven different Nittany Lions posted a hit, led by junior Mario Eramo (Houston, Texas), who finished 2-for-5 with a solo home run. The two teams face off for the second time in as many days on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m., this time at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Kent State jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, but a five-run fourth inning propelled the Lions to a 6-5 advantage. The Golden Flashes answered right back to take a 9-6 lead. Penn State pulled to within one, but Cory Martin and Kyle McMillen came into close the door, not allowing a run over the final three innings.
Eramo got the Lions on the board with his second home run of the season and first since Mar. 6 against Dallas Baptist. Six others finished with a hit, including a two-run double from junior Michael Glantz (Marietta, Ga.) and two-run triple from redshirt freshman Elliot Searer (Lewistown, Pa.). Each scored two runs as well to go along with their first extra-base hits of the season.
Freshman Steven Hill (Colleyville, Texas) impressed on the mound, tossing scoreless seventh and eighth innings to keep Penn State within a run. Junior Mike Pierce (State College, Pa.) also went a season-high 2.2 innings to minimize the damage.
Kent State took advantage of a walk and hit-by-pitch with two runs in the bottom of the first. It looked like junior Calvin Grumley (Johnsonburg, Pa.) would get out of the jam unscathed, but David Lyon hit a two-run double down the left field line to plate Jimmy Rider and Anthony Gallas.
Eramo cut the lead in half with a two-out solo home run to deep right field.
The Golden Flashes scored two more in the bottom of the second to open a 4-1 advantage. The first scored via a Jared Humphreys double down the left field line to plate Kyle McMillen. Humphreys then crossed the plate on an error.
The Nittany batted around in the fourth, scoring five times to take their first lead of the game at 6-4. Glantz cut the deficit to 4-3 with a sharp two-run double down the left field line to score juniors Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) and Bobby Jacobs (West Chester, Pa.). Searer followed with his first-career extra-base hit, a two-run triple to left-center field to plate Eramo and Glantz. Searer later crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the Lions' fifth run of the inning.
Kent State responded with three in the bottom of the inning for a 7-6 advantage after four full frames. Rider and Gallas knocked in the first two via RBI singles while Lyon's sacrifice fly gave the Flashes the lead.
The Golden Flashes added two more runs in the fifth to take a 9-6 advantage. RBI singles from Kyle McMillen and Ben Klafczynski accounted for the inning's scoring.
Penn State pulled to within one with two runs in the top of the sixth to make it 9-8. Glantz and Searer each walked and scored on an RBI groundout and wild pitch, respectively.
The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Wednesday for a rematch with the Golden Flashes. Gametime is set for 6:05 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.
Follow Penn State baseball on Twitter: www.twitter.com/psubaseball.