March 26, 2016
The @PennStateBASE team comes away with a 5-3 victory over Illinois on Saturday. https://t.co/ZHSz3vzMmH
-- Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 26, 2016
| 5 | 3 |
Illinois Field | Champaign, Ill. | Attn: 1591
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
VIDEO: Postgame Comments | Highlights
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Freshmen Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) and Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) were the heroes for Penn State in a 5-3 win over Illinois in the second game of a Big Ten baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field. Hagenman pitched 8 1/3 innings while Burger hit a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth inning to break a close game open.
The game was tied 1-1 entering the ninth, but Penn State (10-12, 1-2 Big Ten) scored four in the top half. Senior left fielder James Coates (Girard, Ohio) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out to push across the go-ahead run, and then Burger, the reigning Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week, lined a double to the left gap to clear the bases and give the Nittany Lions a 5-1 lead. Illinois (10-11, 2-1 Big Ten) threatened with two runs in the bottom half, but senior closer Jack Anderson (7) earned his seventh save of the season and 19th of his career.
It was a milestone win in several regards. First, it was the 300th Big Ten baseball win for Penn State since joining the conference starting with the 1992 season.
Additionally, it snapped a pair of Illinois winning streaks. The defending Big Ten regular season champions had won their last 22 regular season games against Big Ten opponents. The Fighting Illini had also won the previous 11 games against Penn State dating back to 2013. The Lions had won the previous five meetings and had last won in Champaign in 2010.
Hagenman improved to 4-1 with his most impressive performance to date in an already impressive start to his Penn State career. Hagenman became the first Nittany Lion to pitch beyond the eighth inning since Greg Welsh threw a complete game on May 17, 2013 against Michigan State buy going 8 1/3 innings. He was charged with three runs -- an unearned run in the first inning and two earned runs in the ninth when runners he was responsible for scored after he left the game. He matched his career high of six strikeouts and allowed just four hits and two walks.
Illinois shortstop Adam Walton doubled to lead-off the bottom of the first, and he scored from third when catcher Jason Goldstein doubled after his at-bat was extended by a dropped foul ball.
Penn State tied the game in the top of the fourth inning by stringing together three consecutive base hits. With one out, designated hitter Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) and first baseman Tyler Kendall singled, and then freshman centerfielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) hit a base hit to right to score Guers from second.
Illinois appeared to be poised to go back ahead in the bottom half after Hagenman surrendered a four-pitch walk and double to start the frame, but he retired the next three batters, striking out one, to end the threat. With the exception of a fifth inning error, Hagenman would retire the next 16 batters he faced.
Illinois also received a strong start from a freshman, as RHP Cole Bellair allowed just one run on six hits with no walks over eight innings.
RHP Andrew Mamlic (1-4) took the mound for the top of the ninth, and allowed the first three batters to reach. Third baseman Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) led the inning off with a slow roller to third, and then Guers tried to sacrifice him over to second, but was walked. Kendall was able to lay down a bunt, but a miscommunication allowed it to go for a base hit.
Bowersox hit into a force out at home for the first out, and Illinois relieved Mamlic with LHP J.D. Nielsen to face the lefty Coates. Nielson quickly put Coates in an 0-2 count, but plunked him to force in the go-ahead run.
Head coach Rob Cooper then brought in Burger to pinch-hit, and Burger roped a double to the left gap to clear the bases and give Penn State a 5-1 lead.
Illinois brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Anderson recorded the final two outs. He is now within three of both the career appearance and save records at Penn State.
Haley, Kendall and Bowersox led the Nittany Lions in hits with two each, as they totaled nine for the game.
The game was the second of a doubleheader. Penn State dropped the first contest, 6-1.
Penn State will return to Happy Valley to play its next six games and 10 of its next 11 at home in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The homestand will begin Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against Youngstown State.
The Penn State Coaches Show featuring Rob Cooper, presented by Pepsi, is set for its weekly airing Monday at 6 p.m. at Lettermans Sports Grill on East College Avenue. Hosted by Brian Tripp, the show can be heard live locally on State College's ESPN 1450 AM, a Forever Media station, and for free nationally on GoPSUsports.com.
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.