March 6, 2015
| 0 | 2 |
| CSU Ballpark | Charleston, S.C. | Attn: 133 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| VIDEO: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern scored two runs in the first two innings and made it last the duration behind strong pitching from LHP Andrew Tomasovich and its bullpen, earning a 2-0 victory over Penn State in non-conference baseball action Friday evening in CSU Ballpark. The loss spoiled a career day on the mound for Nittany Lion starter LHP Nick Hedge (Winnetka, Ill.), who went a career-best seven innings.
Charleston Southern (6-4) built a 2-0 lead through the first two innings, as Andrew Widell hit an RBI-single up the middle in the first, and Chris Singleton hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the second.
Penn State (0-7) had little trouble reaching base and bunting to advance runners, but struggled to come through with hits with runners in scoring position. The Lions had two runners in scoring position with one out in the first inning and the bases loaded with no outs in both the sixth and ninth innings, but came up empty each time, ultimately stranding 11 total in the game.
Hedge (0-1) took the hard-luck loss after keeping CSU scoreless over his final five innings, yielding seven hits and a walk while striking out four.
Tomasovich (3-1) went seven innings, yielding five hits, no walks and striking out seven, including three straight in the sixth to get out of the bases loaded jam. RHP Austin Weekley (2) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to earn the save, working out of the ninth-inning jam.
The Nittany Lions were paced at the plate by right fielder Aaron Novak (Ambler, Pa.) and second baseman Taylor Skerpon (Sayre, Pa.), who both went 2-for-3. Novak reached base three times, including a hit by pitch, while Skerpon had one of three PSU sacrifice bunts and a double for the team's lone extra base hit.
Novak came through with a single after designated hitter Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) led the ninth inning off with a walk. Ryky Smith (York, Pa.) then bunted for a base hit with two strikes after two failed bunt attempts to load the bases, but Weekley was able to retire the top of the order and induced a double play to end the game.
Widdell reached base three times for the Buccaneers, going 2-for-3.
The three-game series between the two teams will continue Saturday at 4 p.m. LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (0-2, 12.15 ERA) is slated to start for the Nittany Lions, while RHP Evan Raynor (0-1, 2.77) has been tabbed for the Bucs.