Nov. 27, 2015
SAN JOSE DE LAS LAJAS, Mayabeque, Cuba ââ'¬" Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) drove in three runs with a triple and Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) homered to lead Penn State past Mayabeque, 9-3, in the third game of the Cuba Baseball Friendship Tournament Friday afternoon in Nelson Fernandez Stadium. It was the first victory for a United States team at any level over a Cuban National Series team.
With the victory, Penn State improves to 1-2 in the four-game tournament. The game was broadcast locally on Radio Mayabeque, and it began with similar pageantry as the first two games with both teams lining the base lines with their respective country's colors. It was hard to tell post game who was on which team, as many players traded jerseys and hats.
"[This win] is something that [our guys] will be able to talk about for the rest of their lives," said Penn State head coach Rob Cooper.
RHP Justin Hagenman (Vorhees, N.J.) pitched the first three innings for the win and yielded one run on three hits and a walk for the win. Riotto went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks, while Helsel went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Helsel's home run was the first for Penn State in Cuba.
"It was awesome to come out here and get a big win and in front of an active crowd, so it was a lot of fun," said Helsel. "I grew up loving up loving Penn State, so it is a dream come true to represent the Blue and White, both back in the States and especially here in Cuba. People here don't know what Penn State is, but they are getting to see us play and see how we hold ourselves and represent our school, which is a pretty awesome thing."
Mayabeque scored in the first inning on an RBI-single by Yasniel Gonzalez, but Penn State responded with seven runs in the top of the second inning. An error and six walks aided the Nittany Lions in the frame, as they only needed three hits, and Riotto capped the scoring with his bases-clearing triple.
Riotto was the first of 13 batters Penn State sent to the plate in the inning, drawing a walk. Catcher Alex Malinsky (Apex, N.C.) sacrificed Riotto to second with a bunt, but the pitcher, Essiel Fuentes, was unable to get the ball out of his glove cleanly, and Malinsky reached first base safely. Centerfielder Austin Riggins (Greer, S.C.) singled through the right side to load the bases, and leftfielder Keith Leavitt (Manchester, Mass.) walked to force home the first run and Helsel singled up the middle to drive in the second run. After a pitching change, second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) walked and shortstop Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) hit a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead. After another out and another walk to load the bases, Mayabeque made another pitching change. Riotto then stepped up to the plate and drilled a line drive to right field. The right fielder was unable to keep the hard hit ball in front of him, and it rolled to the wall, allowing Riotto to reach third.
Mayabeque worked back into the game in the sixth inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs. Helsel earned one run back though by blasting a home run into the streets beyond the left field wall, sending several children in pursuit of the ball.
A hard-hit ball by first baseman Tyler Kendall (Boynton Beach, Fla.) that resulted in an error allowed the game's final run to score in the ninth inning.
The team spent Thanksgiving learning about the history of Cuban sports and scrimmaging against Industriales in Latin American Stadium. Needing to save its arms, Penn State had Industriales pitchers pitch for them, giving the Nittany Lions the unique opportunity to interact with the Industriales players in the dugout and on the diamond.
Penn State will conclude the friendship tournament Saturday at Matanzas in an 11 am game in Victoria de Girón Stadium.