March 25, 2015
| 5 | 2 |
| Medlar Field | University Park, Pa. | Attn: 514 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| VIDEO: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) doubled to center in a 1-2 count with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead runs for Penn State in a 5-2 victory over Villanova in non-conference baseball action Wednesday evening in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The game had been tied at 2-2 since the fifth inning, but Guers' drive to center brought in left fielder James Coates (Girard, Ohio), centerfielder Ryan Richter (Wayne, Pa.) and catcher Alex Malinsky (Apex, N.C.) for Penn State (5-14). The junior, Coates, drew a one-out walk before Richter's single through the left side moved him up to second. The Villanova (7-12) right fielder misplayed Malinsky's fly ball to right to load the bases. Then after Taylor Skerpon (Sayre, Pa.) popped out to short, Guers battled through an eight-pitch at bat before unloading the bases.
After starting the season 1-10, the Nittany Lions have now won four out of their last five games, including a two-game split with No. 21 Indiana Sunday.
Villanova had built a 2-0 lead with a run on an error in the third and a two-out RBI single in the fifth from left fielder Adam Goss, who led the Wildcats with a 3-for-4 night at the plate. However, Penn State tied it up in the bottom of the fifth, as Malinsky and Skerpon reached to lead off the inning, and then later with two outs, first baseman J.J. White (Lansdowne, Va.) roped a grounder to third that was misplayed, allowing Malinsky to score. Shortstop Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) then singled up the middle to tie the game.
On the mound the Nittany Lions were effective getting out of trouble, as the Wildcats left runners on third in the third through seventh innings. Both teams left the bases loaded in the seventh.
RHP Jack Anderson (2-2) earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, yielding a hit and three walks with two strikeouts. He walked the first batter in the ninth before giving way to rookie Sal Biasi, who earned his first collegiate save, despite getting into a bases-loaded jam. He caught Kevin Jewitt looking for the final out to secure the win.
PSU starter LHP Geoff Boylston went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts. His counterpart, LHP Mike Sgaramella, allowed two unearned runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings of work. RHP Max Almonte (0-1) was charged with the loss as the two batters he allowed to reach represented the go-ahead runs.
Penn State hosts Central Connecticut State in a three-game non-conference series this weekend. It will open with a 5:30 game Friday, followed by games Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.)