April 6, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State baseball team continued its weekend series against Wright State on Saturday afternoon, falling 6-2 despite a strong outing from senior Steven Hill (Colleyville, Pa.) on the mound. The Nittany Lions (5-21) will conclude the three-game set against the Raiders (12-15) tomorrow, April 7 with a 12:05 p.m. contest at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Hill fired 8.0 innings for the Lions, striking out four while walking just one on a total of 116 pitches. The senior allowed 10 hits and four earned runs, moving to a 3.70 ERA and a 1-5 record on the season. Freshman Jack Anderson (Evanston, Ill.) stepped in to close, holding the Raiders scoreless with just one hit allowed in the ninth inning.
Joey Hoelzel earned the win for the Raiders, going 7.0 innings with one earned run and four hits. The junior, who struck out five and walked seven, was relieved by Robby Sexton for the final two innings of the contest. Sexton gave up one earned run and two hits, posting one strikeout and walking two.
Wright State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, with Kody Krizman doubling down the right line to bring home Kieston Greene from third for the first run of the game. Michael Timm then ripped a hit down the left line for a second consecutive double, allowing Krizman to extend the Raiders' lead to 2-0. Curbing the opposition's offense, Hill struck out Jeff Limbaugh to end the inning.
Answering back in the bottom of the second, freshman James Coates (Girard, Ohio) was walked to open the inning, and would eventually rest on third with junior Alex Farkes (Boston, Mass.) stepping up to the plate. Farkes came through with a tough hit straight up the middle for his fifth RBI of the season, with Coates advancing home for his 14th run.
With the score sitting at 2-1, the Raiders responded with two more runs the next inning to shut down Penn State's momentum. A pitcher's duel would leave the contest scoreless for the next four innings, but Wright State would increase its lead to 6-1 in the top of the eighth. With runners on first and third on two outs, Justin Kopale hit an infield single to bat in Garrett Gray, followed by Michael Timm scoring after a fielding error.
Penn State went on to score its final run in the bottom of the inning, with Coates blasting a hit to center field for his 10th RBI of the season. Sophomore J.J. White (Lansdowne, Va.) crossed home to tally his 20th career run and move the score to 6-2 in favor of Wright State. With the Lions unable to score in the ninth, the Raiders claimed the victory to take the three-game series.
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