May 16, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Despite taking its first lead of the series, Minnesota answered with eight unanswered runs on its way to a 8-1 win over the Penn State baseball team on Sunday afternoon at the Metrodome. The Nittany Lions (21-28, 8-13 Big Ten) scratched across a third-inning run after senior Louie Picconi (North Merrick, N.Y.) led off with a double, but it went for naught. Following a Tuesday tilt at Villanova, the Lions host Michigan next weekend with Big Ten Tournament implications on the line.
With one series remaining, the Nittany Lions could still among the top six in the Big Ten standings. Next weekend's series against the Wolverines begins on Thursday. A ton of promotions are scheduled, so come out to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to cheer on the Lions. Purchase your tickets today!
For the second straight day, the Lions mustered only four hits. Those came from Picconi, redshirt freshman Elliot Searer (Lewistown, Pa.), junior Michael Glantz (Marietta, Ga.) and junior Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.). Heath's was the 99th of his career as he looks to become the third Penn State hitter to reach 100 this season.
A strange first innings saw both squads squander golden scoring opportunities. Searer led off the game with a triple to right field, but was stranded as Minnesota starter Phil Isaksson retired the next three in succession.
Then, in the bottom of the first, Minnesota loaded the bases with one out, but junior Calvin Grumley (Johnsonburg, Pa.) struck out Nick O'Shea before inducing a fly-out from Matt Puhl to end the threat.
Two innings later, Penn State crossed the plate to take its first lead of the series. After Picconi led off the third with a double into the right-center field gap, he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on freshman Steve Snyder's (West Chester, Pa.) RBI groundout.
Minnesota answered with three of its own in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1. Kyle Knudson drove in two via a triple to left. He then crossed the plate on Michael Kvasnicka's single.
The Gophers converted three more hits into two runs in the fourth to up their advantage to 5-1. The blog came from Kurt Schlangen, whose two-run single made it 7-1. It looked as if Penn State would hold Minnesota off the scoreboard when Searer gunned down Matt Puhl on a strong throw to the plate, but it was Schlangen who came up with the big two-out hit.
Kyle Knudson hit a mammoth solo home run in the sixth to make it 8-1, good for the final.
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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