May 11, 2014
9 Indiana (35-12, 19-2 B1G) | University Park, Pa. • Medlar Field • Attendance: 1,436 | 2 Penn State (17-29, 5-15 B1G) |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 11, 2014 - The Penn State Nittany Lions (17-29, 5-15 Big Ten) fell to No. 19/9 Indiana (35-12, 19-2 Big Ten) in the three-game series' finale on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 9-2.
Penn State managed to score its two runs on six hits on the day. All six hits came from different Nittany Lion hitters. The Blue and White's runs were produced by Taylor Skerpon (Sayre, Pa.) off an RBI single and Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) via a fielder's choice.
For the second time this series, the Hoosiers struck in the top of the first for an early lead. Indiana plated two runs off back-to-back RBI singles from Scott Donley and Dustin DeMuth to take the 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, Penn State clawed back to level the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Alex Farkes (Boston, Mass.) kick started the offense by drawing a one-out walk followed by a single off the bat of Steve Snyder (West Chester, Pa.) to left field to give Penn State runners on first and second. Skerpon then laced a single through the middle of the infield to score Farkes and to cut the deficit to one run at 2-1. Two batters later Guers hit an infield single to shortstop to bring in Snyder and knot the score at 2-2.
Indiana wasted little time in retaking the lead, as the visitors pushed a run across the plate in the top of the fourth to go back on top by a score of 3-2. A leadoff double from DeMuth coupled with a costly Penn State error led to the Hoosiers' run, which came in off a fielder's choice from Will Nolden.
One inning later, the Hoosiers extended their lead to three runs at 5-2, their largest lead of the day. IU's Kyle Schwarber drew a two-out walk and then Sam Travis hit a home run over the wall in right center for the two-run inning. The home run is the junior's third in as many games.
Neither Indiana nor Penn State scored in the sixth or seventh stanzas and then the Hoosiers tacked on four insurance runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach and went on to win by a final score of 9-2.
The win for the Hoosiers gives Indiana at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
The Nittany Lions travel to Villanova on Tuesday for their final non-conference midweek matchup of the season. Penn State and the Wildcats are set to take the diamond at 3:45 p.m.