March 9, 2016

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – Eli Nabholz, Nick Hedge and Jack Anderson combined to hold Duke to three hits and lead Penn State to a 2-1 victory over the Blue Devils in non-conference baseball action Wednesday afternoon in Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Nabholz, a freshman, made his first start for his third collegiate appearance, allowing the one run on one hit and three walks in three innings with a career-best five strikeouts. Hedge (1-0) took over in the fourth inning and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Anderson (3) entered with two outs in the eighth inning and did not allow a hit. He struck out two in the ninth for his second consecutive save, third of the season and 15th of his career.

In addition to now ranking second in all-time saves in program history, Anderson moved into sole possession of third place in all-time appearances at Penn State with his 75th.

Neither team had a baserunner reach until the third inning, and Duke was able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half. With one out, third baseman Max Miller hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to drive in a run.

Penn State answered the very next frame, taking advantage of an error for two unearned runs. Right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) reached on the fielding error to lead-off the inning, third baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) singled and second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) reached on a bunt single to load the bases. First baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) drove in Riotto with a groundout and centerfielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) plated Burger with a sacrifice fly.

It would prove to be the game's decisive inning. After RHP Kellen Urbon (2-1) left the game after the fourth inning, allowing the two unearned runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts, four Duke pitchers combined to hold Penn State without a hit for the rest of the game. The Blue Devils walked the bases loaded in the sixth inning with no outs, but used a 5-2-3 double play to get out of trouble.

Duke did not get its second hit of the game until the sixth inning, as second baseman Ryan Day doubled after an error to give the Blue Devils two runners in scoring position with two outs, but Hedge was able to get the final out.

Hedge yielded his second hit in the eighth inning was lifted with two outs and a runner on second. Anderson took the mound and hit the first batter he faced and walked the next to load the bases, but induced a slow roller back to the mound, and he made the final out with an underhand toss.

Anderson struck out the first batter in the ninth, was aided by a tough play at shortstop by Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) and struck out the next to end the game.

Penn State will continue northward to play at the Spider Invitational hosted by the University of Richmond. The three-game tournament will open Friday at 1 p.m. against NYIT, continue Saturday at 10 a.m. against Princeton and conclude Sunday against Richmond starting at 2 p.m.