April 15, 2013
By Mike Esse, GoPSUSports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich. this past weekend and despite some solid efforts on the mound the Nittany Lions (7-24, 0-9) were unable to pick up their first conference win of the season against Big Ten frontrunner Michigan (20-14,7 -2).
It started on Friday night where both teams were slow offensively as Penn State held 1-0 lead heading into the eighth inning.
In the top of the seventh, Penn State broke the scoreless tie via an Aaron Novak single that scored Luis Montesinos and starting pitcher T.J. Jann delivered seven scoreless innings to put the Nittany Lions in prime position. Jann allowed just two hits with one strikeout before leaving the game after the seventh inning.
However, Michigan, the current co-leader in the Big Ten standings, found a way to get going offensively with a five run offensive explosion in the bottom of the eighth to snatch the victory from the Lions.
Penn State had eight hits in the loss, including three from Montesinos and two from freshman outfielder James Coates.
Senior Steven Hill took the mound in game two against and gave the Lions eight solid innings, but came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision. Hill allowed three runs on eight hits while recording four strikeouts.
The Wolverines scored all three of their runs by the end of the third inning and Hill was able to shut down the Wolverines offensively and allowed just two hits over the next five innings.
Penn State scored its first run of game two in the top of the third inning thanks to a Taylor Skerpon double that scored Alex Farkes, after he singled to left field earlier in the frame.
The other Nittany Lion run came in the top of the fourth inning after Michigan starting pitcher Evan Hill walked four Nittany Lions, with a Coates base on balls forcing Novak across the plate.
Both teams went silent after the fourth inning. Michigan's relief pitching shut down the Nittany Lions as James Bourque, Kyle Clark and Jacob Cronenworth combined for three and two-thirds scoreless innings to close out the win for the Wolverines.
Game three featured Greg Welsh and Logan McAnallen on the mound for Penn State and Michigan, respectively, but neither pitcher was able to make it out of the third inning.
Penn State tallied one run on one hit in the first inning to take their second lead of the weekend when J.C. Coban single to center field to score Elliott Searer, who reached on a fielders choice and stole a base in the inning.
Michigan responded immediately with a run of its own via three hits in the bottom of the inning. They added two runs in both the third and fourth innings, before tacking on three more in the seventh to cap the scoring at 8-1.
Penn State churned out seven hits, with Searer collecting two hits and scoring a run, to go along with five walks and one hit-by-pitch. The Nittany Lions also turned three of their four double plays on the weekend in the series finale.
Novak and Montesinos continued their steady contributions from the plate versus Michigan, combining for seven hits on the weekend. Novak had a hit in each game to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Penn State has four games at home this weekend starting with Bucknell on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. before hosting Iowa in a three game series beginning on Friday night at 6:05 p.m.
--NITTANY LIONS--