March 7, 2015

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Penn State fought back from a three-run deficit and tied the game twice, but Charleston Southern scored two runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Nittany Lions, 7-5, in non-conference baseball action Saturday evening in CSU Ballpark.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Charleston Southern (7-4) first baseman Chase Shelton hit a line drive just over the glove of a leaping Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) at shortstop, driving in the eventual winning run from second base. Catcher Sam Remick drove in another run with a single for the final margin.

Penn State (0-8) trailed 4-1 entering the fifth inning, but was able to get two base runners on with two outs, and left fielder Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) delivered with an RBI-single to cut the deficit to two. The Lions came through with more two-out heroics in the sixth inning, as right fielder Aaron Novak (Ambler, Pa.) singled and scored on a double by centerfielder Ryan Richter (Wayne, Pa.). Pinch-hitter J.J. White (Lansdowne, Va.) followed with a single to left to drive in Richter and tie the game.

The Buccaneers went back ahead in the bottom half on a squeeze bunt, but an infield single to third base with two outs by catcher Alex Malinsky (Apex, N.C.) allowed the Lions to tie the game at five in the top of the seventh.

Novak and Haley paced the Lions at the plate for the game with two hits each, while Novak also scored twice.

Centerfielder Brandon Burris went 4-for-5 with two runs scored to lead Charleston Southern, while Shelton had a team-best two RBIs. Starting pitcher Evan Raynor struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings of work, while Chayce Hubbard (1-0) earned the win after getting the final out in the seventh inning and striking out the side in the eighth. Austin Weekley earned his second save in as many nights with a scoreless ninth.

RHP Jack Anderson (Evanston, Ill.) (0-1) was strong in his first two innings of relief, but he was responsible for the go-ahead runs in the eighth.

Charleston Southern got on the scoreboard first in the second inning on an RBI-double by Cole Murphy. Penn State answered in the top of the third as Novak led the frame off with a double and later scored from third on a single up the middle Haley. The Buccaneers built a 4-1 lead though by adding two runs in the bottom half of the inning and one in the fourth.

The three-game series will conclude Sunday with RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) (0-2, 3.52 ERA) slated to take the mound for Penn State. He will face RHP Denis Buckley for Charleston Southern.