Here's our wrap up from Evanston as @PennStateBASE defeats @NUCatsBaseball 8-2.#B1GBaseball https://t.co/0OO7PohIFi
— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) April 16, 2016
8 | 2 |
| Miller Park | Evanston, Ill. | 561 | |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
VIDEO: Postgame Comments
EVANSTON, Ill. - Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) doubled twice and drove in two and RHP Sal Biasi (Hazleton Township, Pa.) allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings as Penn State clinched the series with Northwestern with a 8-2 victory in Big Ten baseball action Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
Penn State (21-14, 7-4 Big Ten) won its fourth-straight game and picked up its 16th win in its last 20 games. Improving to 7-4 in conference play, the Lions are off to their best Big Ten start through 11 games since 2005 when they were also 7-4 through 11. The Lions already have their most conference wins since 2012 with more than half of the conference schedule remaining.
Guers posted his fourth-straight multi-hit game, and third straight with three or more hits, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) also doubled and drove in two runs. Eight different Nittany Lions tallied at least one hit for a total of 11. Shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) was the only other Lion with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 with a run. Northwestern (9-26, 2-9 Big Ten) used five different pitchers.
Biasi (4-4) struck out six in 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk. RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, yielding two hits, a walk and an unearned run.
RHP Dan Kubiuk (0-4) suffered the loss for the Wildcats, allowing the first four runs on five hits and two walks with no strikeouts in four innings. The four relievers following gave up a run each.
Penn State first scored in the second inning on RBIs by centerfielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) and second baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) First baseman Tyler Kendall (Boynton Beach, Fla.) led the frame off with a ground-rule double that bounced over the fence in front of the scoreboard in the right gap, and he advanced to third on a ground out by designated hitter Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.), which allowed him to score easily on a chopper up the middle by Bowersox. Klemann followed with a double to the fence in right-center to score Bowersox from second.
The next two innings were scoreless but Penn State added four runs in the fifth inning aided by three balks by two different pitchers. Hughes led the frame off with a base hit and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) drew a walk while trying to sacrifice him. Riotto tried to bunt as well, but the first balk of the inning did his job for him, and he delivered with a double down the right line to score both for a 4-0 lead.
Riotto advanced to third on a balk and scored on a double to right by Guers. Guers took third on a wild pitch and then scored on another balk for a 6-0 advantage.
Northwestern got one run back in the bottom half of the fifth. Second baseman Willie Bourbon led the frame off with a double, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by centerfielder Ben Dickey. Bourbon led the Wildcats with two of their six hits on the day.
Guers restored the six-run margin in the seventh, smoking an RBI-double off the wall. Both teams added a run in the ninth for the final margin.
Penn State will look to complete a three-game sweep of Northwestern Sunday at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET.
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.