Feb. 19, 2016

Box Score

CARY, N.C. -- Freshman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) had two hits and drove in a run in his Penn State collegiate debut, but Monmouth was able to outlast the Nittany Lions in their baseball season opener, 3-1, Friday afternoon at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The game was the first of the Penn State Tournament, which also includes Army and Bryant.

All of the scoring took place in the first four innings, with Monmouth (1-0) scoring a run in the third and two in the fourth.

Joining Hughes with two-hit games for Penn State (0-1) were third baseman Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) and right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.). Riotto, who also reached on a walk, started the bottom of the fourth inning with a single to right field and was replaced on-base by freshman second baseman Connor Kleeman (Royersford, Pa.) after a fielder's choice. Kleeman advanced to second on a ground out and then scored on Hughes' two-out single to centerfield.

It would be the final run of the game though. Monmouth LHP Frank Trimarco (1-0) went six innings to earn the win, allowing the lone run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts, while LHP Kyle Ajjan yielded just two hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings and RHP Ben Hoffman picked up the save holding the Lions hitless over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Penn State had chances to score late. Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) had a deep shot to right field but it was caught at the wall, and then the Lions loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but were unable to bring anyone home.

Monmouth first baseman Shaine Hughes drove in the game's first run with a two-out single in the third inning and went a team-best 2-for-3 with a walk for the day. The Hawks added two more the next inning on a pair of RBI groundouts.

LHP Taylor Lehman (0-1) also went six innings for Penn State, yielding the three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts, and RHP Dakota Forsyth kept the game scoreless over the final three innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

Bryant (1-0) defeated Army (0-1), 6-1, in the tournament's second game.

Penn State will continue the tournament Saturday with a doubleheader against Army starting at 1:30 p.m. The Nittany Lions will conclude the tournament Sunday against Bryant with first pitch at 10 a.m.

Tournament Schedule
Saturday, February 20
1:30 p.m. - Game 3 - Field 4
Monmouth vs. Bryant
LHP Anthony Ciavarella vs. RHP Jimmy Davitt

Bryant vs. Monmouth
LHP Steve Theetge vs. RHP Ricky Dennis

1:30 p.m. - Game 4 - Field 2
Army West Point vs. Penn State
RHP Matt Ball vs. RHP Sal Biasi

Penn State vs. Army West Point
RHP Justin Hagenman vs. TBA

Sunday, February 21
10 a.m. - Game 7 - Field 3
Bryant vs. Penn State
RHP Brandon Bingel vs. LHP Nick Hedge

11 a.m. - Game 8 - Field 2
Monmouth vs. Army West Point
LHP Mike Brambilla vs. RHP Garrison Franklin