April 3, 2013
KENT, Ohio - The Penn State baseball team stalled against Kent State on Wednesday evening, falling 10-0 to the 2012 College World Series contenders. The Nittany Lions move to a 5-19 overall record, while the Golden Flashes improve to 12-14.
The Golden Flashes were led by starting pitcher Nick Jensen-Clagg, firing 7.0 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. The freshman improves to a 2-2 record on the season after striking out three batters and walking one. Jensen-Clagg was relieved by Dan Kopcak and Eric Dorsch, combining for 2.0 scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Dorsch retired two Lions, while Kopcak shut down one.
Sophomore Ryan Harper (Texas City, Texas) made the start for Penn State, pitching 4.0 innings with five hits and four earned runs allowed. The New Mexico J.C. transfer tied his career record of three strikeouts. Junior Tim Dunn (Coto de Caza, Calif.), senior Neal Herring (West Chester, Pa.) and senior Cody Lewis (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) each saw the mound for the Lions, with Dunn firing 2.0 innings with three hits and two unearned runs.
The Golden Flashes struck first, with Sawyer Polen scoring in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch. Polen had previously hit a one-out triple to the center field wall, and scored Kent State's first run as George Roberts stood at the plate. The lead would be extended to 4-0 by the bottom of the fourth, with Jason Bagoly doubling to right center for an RBI as Evan Campbell crossed home plate. The Golden Flashes would follow up with a consecutive run thanks to a sac fly RBI from T.J. Sutton, allowing Roberts to score for a 3-0 advantage. Bagoly would score the final run of the inning, as Harper struck out Derek Toadvine to close the fourth.
Holding a 4-0 lead, Kent State would go on to tally six unanswered runs, posting four in the bottom of eighth inning alone. The Golden Flashes were led by Roberts and Toadvine, who each collected two hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Sutton recorded an excellent defensive game, as well as offensive, going 2-for-3 with one run and an RBI. Bagoly and Alex Miklos each tallied a run and an RBI, as well, while Campbell and Zarley Zalewski each scored two runs.
Penn State's sole hit came from sophomore J.C. Coban (Boca Raton, Fla.), extending his six-game hitting streak to seven on his second infield hit of the season. Coban has collected two RBIs and a run scored during the stretch.
The Nittany Lions will host Wright State on Friday, April 5, kicking off a three-game weekend series at Medlar Field. Friday's 6:05 p.m. contest will feature free appetizer coupons to the Texas Roadhouse for all fans while supplies last, and Sunday's 12:05 p.m. contest will welcome all children in attendance to run the bases following the conclusion of the game. Saturday's first pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m., with all games available via GameTracker and Listen Live at GoPSUsports.com
Season tickets for students are just $20, with Student General Admission tickets starting at $2 and Student Bleacher tickets at $1. Season tickets for Adult General Admission start at $63, while Adult General Admission tickets are sold for $4. For fans interested in the Diamond Club "In the Box" seats, single games start at $6 and season tickets will be sold for $99. Youth General Admission and Season tickets are the same cost as student tickets. Single game tickets can be purchased at the Spikes' Box Office or via the Tickets page on GoPSUSports.com.
Check back to GoPSUSports.com for continued updates during the 2013 season. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PennStateBASE and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatebaseball.