April 29, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite a clutch two-run rally by the Nittany Lions in the top of the ninth that eventually sent the game into extra innings, the Penn State baseball team could not quite overcome its early deficit as Michigan State battled back and plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th to grab a 5-4 victory on a sunny Friday afternoon at McLane Stadium.
In a tension-filled battle between a pair of teams at the top of the Big Ten standings, both squads left everything on the field in the thrilling extra-inning contest. Eventually, Michigan State (25-13, 8-5 Big Ten) outlasted its opposition and held onto first-place in the league. With the setback, Penn State (25-14, 7-6) dropped into a tie for third and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.
Joey DeBernardis led the Lion offense as the junior first baseman went 3-for-5 and knocked in the game-tying run in the top of the ninth. Bobby Jacobs, in an incredibly well-rounded effort, also tallied two hits, scored once, threw out an attempted base stealer, and blocked the plate beautifully on two plays while cutting down runners at the plate.
After Michigan State regained its early two-run lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans held that advantage until Penn State pieced together a rally in the ninth. During the inning, Mario Eramo drew a leadoff walk before Ryan Clark and Michael Glantz were both plunked to load the bases with no outs.
Needing to take advantage, Blake Lynd came up next and kept the rally going. After drilling a rope down the leftfield line that just missed fair territory by mere inches, he smacked a shot back up the middle. Although the Spartan centerfielder made a diving attempt, the ball found an open space and allowed Eramo to score.
Two batters later, DeBernardis landed the crucial blow for the Lions. With two outs, he cranked an RBI single to center, which chased in Clark with the tying run.
Hoping for extra innings, Penn State had to survive a scare in the bottom of the ninth to force bonus baseball. After back-to-back singles put a pair of Spartans on with no outs, the Lions called on freshman southpaw Greg Welsh to work out of the jam. With one pitch, the lefty specialist got exactly what he was looking for. On a grounder to short, Glantz snapped up the ball and flipped to Luis Montesinos, who made an exceptional pivot and threw to first for a crucial 6-4-3 double play.
Not out of the woods just yet, Welsh had to escape a second jam after MSU re-loaded the bases following a hit by pitch and walk. Once again, the reliever did his job as he induced an inning-ending groundball to third.
Taking a page from Penn State's book, the Spartans escaped their own bases-loaded situation in the top of the 10th. After Montesinos roped a leadoff single to right, Eramo drew his third walk of the game before Glantz was hit for the second straight time to load the bases with only one out.
Looking to break the deadlock, Lynd fired a line drive to left. Playing shallow to begin with, Jordan Keur came sprinting in before diving headfirst to make an exceptional, game-saving grab. One batter later, MSU escaped following a strikeout to keep the score tied at four.
Trying to put an end to the back-and-forth affair, Michigan State got things going in the bottom of the 10th after Andy Johnson worked a leadoff walk. Later, after a perfect sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position, he settled 90-feet from home following a groundout to second.
With two down, closer Heath Johnson got Grant Newsome to roll a ball towards the hole on the left side of the infield. Unfortunately, although Glantz nearly made a nice backhand stab, the ball squirted away for a brief second and allowed the winning run to score.
Tony Wieber (5-0) picked up the victory after tossing two innings of scoreless ball out of the bullpen. Welsh was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one unearned run.
Early in the day, the game got off to an unusual start as three runners were thrown out at home during the first two innings of play. In the top of the first, Lynd led off with a single and attempted to score after DeBernardis clubbed his league-leading 21st double to dead centerfield. Despite Lynd's speed, Michigan State made two excellent relay throws that eventually cut down the senior by a stride.
After having an RBI taken away by a strong defensive effort in the top of the first, DeBernardis exacted revenge in the bottom of the frame. Following a two-base error and a groundout, the Spartans had a runner on third with only one down. Stepping to the plate in a great RBI situation, Jeff Holm smoked a ball to first. With a quick reaction, DeBernardis backhanded the rocket and immediately fired to Jacobs, who set up shop and blocked home beautifully before slapping down the tag to end the threat.
One inning later, Jacobs made another strong play at the plate but Michigan State eventually opened the scoring with a two-run rally. After the Spartans put runners on the corners with no outs, Tony Wieber poked an RBI single to left, which got things rolling. Later, after a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Justin Scanlon slammed a shot to third.
Once again, Penn State fielded the ball cleanly as Jordan Steranka snagged the laser down the line. Just as DeBernardis did in the first, he immediately fired home. Blocking the plate perfectly, Jacobs handled the throw and slapped down another great tag to cut down the run.
Despite that effort, Michigan State fired another run on the board after Brandon Eckerle notched a two-out RBI single, which gave the squad a 2-0 lead.
Two innings later, MSU struck again after loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. Although the Lions were unable to escape unscathed, the PSU defense certainly limited the damage. A nifty 6-4-3 double play allowed one run to score but helped the squad eventually work out of the inning. Later, Lynd closed the frame with an exceptional catch in left.
With a runner on third, Holm blasted a bomb to deep left. Although Lynd got a late break on the ball, he eventually got a good read, turned, and flew to the corner. In stride, he reached out and made an extended over-the-should grab to cap off the frame.
Refusing to let Michigan State pull away, Penn State began to whittle away at its deficit. In the top of the fifth, Eramo drilled a single up the middle to start the inning. Later, Clark lined a double to left that rattled around in the corner, which allowed Eramo to chug around from first and put the Lions on the scoreboard.
One inning later, PSU struck again. Following back-to-back singles by DeBernardis and Steranka, Jacobs stepped to the plate. After popping a bunt attempt foul on the first pitch of the at bat, the senior catcher was told to swing away, and the decision paid immediate dividends. On a 2-2 pitch, he lined the offering to left, which allowed DeBernardis to score from second. Unfortunately, the rally was stifled after that as Michigan State flipped a 3-6-3 double play to help end the inning.
As the offense did its job, Steven Hill started to find a rhythm on the mound. After allowing the early runs, the sophomore ace retired eight straight batters during Penn State's comeback bid. Later, although he allowed a run in the seventh which gave MSU a 4-2 lead, he sent the hosts down in order in the eighth to set up the Lions' late-inning rally.
Overall, Hill went eight innings and allowed four runs while striking out three. His counterpart, Kurt Wunderlich, fired 5.2 innings while scattering two runs on eight hits.
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. The middle game of the series will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
--PSU--