March 25, 2016
| 0 | 5 |
Illinois Field | Champaign, Ill. | Attn: 652
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois jumped out to an early lead and RHP Cody Sedlock kept the Penn State bats in check, as the Fighting Illini defeated the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten baseball opener for both teams, 5-0, Friday night in Illinois Field.
Penn State (9-11, 0-1 B1G) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with the loss. The Nittany Lions had its first batter reach in four of the first six innings, but Sedlock (4-1), a top-40 MLB prospect, struck out 10 in seven innings of work, allowing just four hits with no walks to earn the win Illinois (9-10, 1-0 Big Ten).
Centerfielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) had two of Penn State's four hits against Sedlock. He doubled with two outs in his first at-bat in the second inning to give the Nittany Lions two runners in scoring position, but Sedlock responded with a strikeout.
Illinois took command with four runs in the first inning, as it loaded the bases with two hit by pitches and a single with no outs to open the bottom of the first inning. LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (1-5) was able to get a force out at home for the first out but designated hitter Anthony Drago plated a run with a swinging bunt and centerfielder Doran Tuchin followed with a sacrifice fly to drive home another run. Right fielder Jack Yalowitz singled to second and two runs scored with the help of an errant throw.
Third baseman Trent Hammond singled up the middle with two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning for a 5-0 lead. Bowersox threw out a runner advancing to third to end the inning and prevent another run from counting.
Nittany Lion pitchers held Illinois without a run over the final six innings. RHP Eli Nabholz (Pottsville, Pa.) worked three scoreless and hitless innings and struck out three after entering at the start of the fifth inning.
Designated hitter Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) joined Bowersox with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double. Penn State totaled six hits to Illinois' eight.
Yalowitz went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two walks to lead Illinois, while Drago went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run.
Penn State and Illinois will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon ET due to the threat of inclement weather Sunday. The second game will start at 4 p.m. ET and will be televised live on BTN.
Purchase Penn State baseball tickets by visiting GoPSUsports.com or calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711. For more information on Penn State baseball tickets please call 814-272-1711 or email Stephen Christ schrist@statecollegespikes.com.