April 26, 2014
L, 4-0 Game One (22-16, 9-9 Big Ten) | Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 1 (PDF) Box Score Game 2 | Box Score Game 2 (PDF) Minneapolis, Minn • Seibert Stadium • Attendance: 639 | L, 12-0 Game Two (17-23, 5-9 B1G) |
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.; April 26, 2014 - The Penn State Nittany Lions (17-23, 5-9 Big Ten) lost two games to Minnesota (22-16, 9-9 Big Ten) in Saturday's twin bill. The Blue and White fell by a final of 4-0 in the first game of the day and then lost a lopsided affair by a final of 12-0 in the finale.
Game One: Starting pitcher T.J. Jann (Westford, Mass.) tossed Penn State's second complete game in as many games. The junior went eight innings, the longest start of his career, allowing four runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out two.
The Nittany Lions were kept off the scoreboard despite posting nine hits. Penn State stranded 10 runners on the base paths over the nine innings. Taylor Skerpon (Sayre, Pa.) had the best game at the plate with three hits in four at bats for the Penn State offense.
For the second-straight game Minnesota was the first to get on the scoreboard, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and no one on base, the Gophers recorded two singles with a hit by pitch sandwiched in between to load the bases. Connor Schaefbauer came up with the huge hit, doubling down the left field line to clear the bases and give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
After a scoreless third from both squads, The Golden Gophers added another run in the bottom of the fourth, although it could have been much more for the home side. Minnesota's Dan Motl recorded an infield single to score Jake Bergren. The hosts then proceeded to load the bases with no outs putting Jann in a jam. The junior right hander got the next Gopher hitter to pop out to shallow right followed by an inning ending double play to hold Minnesota to just one run.
After escaping the bases loaded threat, Jann settled in and was very effective for the Nittany Lions. The junior did not allow a run in the final four innings, allowing just two hits from the fifth through eighth frames.
Unfortunately for Jann and the Blue and White, Minnesota's Ben Meyer matched Jann inning-for-inning in the same time frame. The junior did not allow Penn State to plate a run in his eight innings of work, allowing eight hits, all of which were singles.
Minnesota called in reliever Toby Anderson to pitch the ninth inning. The freshman gave up one hit and recorded a strikeout in his one inning of work to secure the 4-0 victory for the Gophers.
Game Two: Minnesota's pitching continued its dominating form in the series' finale, as Neal Kunik and Lance Thonvold combined to toss a four-hit shutout. The two pitchers struck out 12 Penn State batters, with Kunik recording nine of the punchouts.
Things did not start well for the Nittany Lions in the series finale on Saturday night. After retiring the Blue and White in order in the top of the first, the Golden Gophers scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning off seven hits to open up a large lead.
After a scoreless second, Minnesota tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Golden Gophers put three on the board via three base knocks and a costly throwing error. All three scores were unearned.
Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth innings and then the Golden Gophers tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth off a solo home run from Bobby Juan and an RBI single off the bat of Dan Motl to push their lead to 12-0.
Minnesota closed out the final three innings without allowing a run to complete the three-game sweep of the Nittany Lions.
The Blue and White returns home for two midweek, non-conference games against Kent State and Mount St. Mary's. The Nittany Lions and Golden flashes are scheduled to meet at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Penn State then hosts the Mount on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m.