March 7, 2016

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Freshman third baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) drove in four runs, freshman RHP Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and senior closer Jack Anderson worked through a nail-biting final 2 1/3 innings as Penn State defeated UNCW, 5-4,in non-conference baseball action Monday evening at Brooks Field.

All five Nittany Lion runs came with two outs and the win snapped a six-game losing streak.

Joining Anderson as a veteran factor for Penn State (3-7) was junior shortstop Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.) who had an RBI-single to ignite a four-run fifth inning and a great defensive play to end the game.

Anderson (2) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings with just the one-run lead, and yielded just two hits while striking out three for the save. It was his 74th career appearance to tie him for second all-time in program history and his 14th career save to place him one shy of tying Clint Eury (2002-05) for second in program history.

Hagenman (2-1) now sports a 0.93 ERA in his first three collegiate starts as none of the four runs he allowed to UNCW (8-2) were earned. In 6 2/3 innings, he allowed just five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. His last two starts have come against strong competition as South Carolina was ranked No. 15 and UNCW is the favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association.

Burger had two of Penn State's four hits on the day and drove in the game's first run. Right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) singled to right field to lead-off the game and left fielder Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa,) moved him into scoring position with a two-out walk. Burger then plated Riotto with a single the second baseman couldn't corral.

The Lions would add to their lead in the fifth inning. First baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) led the frame off with a walk and the next two batters were retired, but second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) drew a walk and Haley hit a sharp grounder through the left side to plate Helsel. Guers then walked to load the bases for Burger, who cleared them with a triple to right field for a 5-0 lead.

Penn State was held to just four hits but drew eight walks and had one hit batsman.

Hagenman faced the minimum through the first five innings to keep the Seahawks off the scoreboard, working around a leadoff walk in the second inning with a double play. UNCW was able to get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning though after an error and a hit-and-error gave it two runners in scoring position with just one out. Left fielder Steven Linkous singled to center to drive in both to cut the deficit to three.

A walk and groundout placed two more runners in scoring positon and catcher Nick Feight drove in both with a single to right to pull the Seahawks within one at 5-4. Designated hitter Terrance Connelly flew out to the warning track in right field with a towering fly ball to end the inning.

Pitchers Whitman Barnes, Austin Magestro and Jared Gesell combined to hold Penn State to just one walk over the final 3 2/3 innings, but Anderson did not allow the Seahawks to tie or take the lead despite runners on-base in each inning he pitched.

Pinch-hitter Joe Bertone reached on an infield single with one out in the ninth and stole second during a strikeout. Right fielder Andy Austin then hit one up the middle but Haley had the range to get to it and Helsel scooped his hasty throw for the game's final out.

RHP Josh Roberson (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Penn State will begin heading back north, playing next at Duke in Durham, N.C. Wednesday at 4 p.m.