Feb. 19, 2017
No. 1 | |
| 3 | 9 |
| Lupton Field | Fort Worth, Texas | 4,455 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) homered twice, but Penn State was unable to maintain a strong start, as No. 1 TCU completed a series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the Nittany Lions Sunday afternoon in Lupton Stadium.
Burger went 2-for-4 with the two home runs and all three runs batted in to lead Penn State (0-3) offensively. He homered just once as a Big Ten All-Freshman pick in 2016.
The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) doubled with two outs and Burger homered to left field. Then in the bottom half, RHP Justin Hagenman (Vorhees, N.J.) (0-1) struck out the side.
However, TCU (3-0) would tie the game in the second inning, as shortstop Ryan Merrill singled home a run and then, during the next at-bat, got caught in a rundown that allowed a runner from third to score when Penn State misplayed it. The Horned Frogs took the lead, 5-2, with a three-run third inning. After a single and pop-out, the next two batters walked to load the bases, and left fielder Josh Watson hit a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run. Two more runs scored on an error in the outfield.
TCU put the game out of reach in the fifth inning, as first baseman Luken Baker slugged a solo home run and second baseman Cam Warner hit a two-run home run for an 8-2 advantage.
TCU freshman Nick Lodolo (1-0), the 41st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Entry Draft, worked five innings and struck out seven, allowing the two runs on three hits and two walks.
The Frogs added another run in the seventh, and then Burger homered in the top of the eighth for the final margin.
Warner, Baker and right fielder Austen Wade led TCU with two hits each, while Warner's two RBIs were a team high.
The Punxsutawney duo of sophomore catcher Ryan Sloniger and freshman left fielder Braxton Giavedoni, who made his first career start, both doubled for Penn State.
Penn State will return to action in Cary, North Carolina, hosting Xavier in a four-game, three-day series at the USA Baseball National Training Center beginning Friday.