April 19, 2015
| 5 | 9 |
| Siebert Field | Minneapolis, Minn. | Attn: 230 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| VIDEO: Postgame Comments (Coming Soon) |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Penn State scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but Minnesota answered with six in the bottom half en route to a 9-5 victory over the Nittany Lions Sunday afternoon in Big Ten baseball action on Siebart Field.
Minnesota's (16-19, 6-9 B1G) six runs in the first came on four RBI-doubles and a sacrifice fly. Catcher Matt Halloran drove in two with his double for the go-ahead runs.
Halloran went 2-for-4 on the day, while designated hitter Matt Fielder (2-for-4) and centerfielder Alex Boxwell (2-for-3) both reached base three times. Boxwell, who also tallied an RBI, entered as a pinch runner in the first inning.
Penn State (12-21, 2-9 B1G) started off strong, scoring three runs in the first on two hits, an error and three wild pitches. Designated hitter James Coates (Girard, Ohio) led the game off with a bloop double, and he scored when left fielder Greg Guers' (Langhorne, Pa.) sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed. Right fielder Aaron Novak (Ambler, Pa.) struck out but reached first on a wild pitch, advanced to second on another wild pitch, advanced to third on an RBI-groundout by shortstop Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) and scored on another wild pitch.
RHP Fred Manke settled in from there though, stranding two in scoring position in the second inning and ultimately working 4 1/3 innings, yielding the three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
The Golden Gophers added another run in the third inning on an RBI-triple by Alex Boxwell, and two unearned runs in the fourth. The Lions loaded the bases in the sixth inning and scored two runs on a Coates hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly by Guers for the final margin.
RHP Nick Distasio (1-5) was tagged with the loss, only getting two outs in the first inning. RHPs Jared Fagnano (2.0 IP) and Jack Anderson (3.0 IP) held Minnesota scoreless over the final five innings.
Penn State will conclude its road swing Tuesday at Kent State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.