Feb. 24, 2017
| 7 | 5 |
| Coleman Field - USA Baseball NTC | Cary, N.C. | 176 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
CARY, N.C. -- Penn State earned its first win of the season, taking command in the third inning en route to a 7-5 victory over Xavier, Friday afternoon on Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
Penn State (1-3) was strong on the mound and at the plate. For the former, RHP Sal Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) (1-1) went five innings and struck out five without allowing a walk, surrendering three runs on three hits, RHP Dakota Forsyth (Bethel Park, Pa.) struck out a career-high six over 3 1/3 innings, and RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) got the final two outs for his first career save.
For the latter, all 10 Nittany Lions that had a plate appearance reached base and six combined for a season-high 10 hits. The Lions showed poise as well, as the first five runs were all scored with two outs. Left fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) led in hits going 3-for-5 with an RBI, while third baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) and centerfielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with doubles. Nadeau also had an RBI and designated hitter Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) went 1-for-4 with a two-run double.
Xavier (2-3) was first on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, as shortstop Chris Given led the game off with a double, took third on a wild pitch and was driven home by right fielder Joe Gellenbeck. The Musketeers had an opportunity to build an early lead when they had two runners reach scoring position with no outs in the second, but Biasi battled back with a strikeout before inducing a line out and groundout to end the threat.
The Lions took command in the third inning, as Nadeau led off with a double for his first career hit, using his speed to turn what initially appeared to be a routine single into a double. With two outs and two on, first baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) drove in Nadeau from second with a single to right, and the go-ahead run scored on a fielding error on an infield hit by Bowersox.
The Lions enjoyed more two out success the next inning as second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) and left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) both drew walks after the first two batters were retired, and both scored when Klemann doubled to left center in the next at-bat.
Xavier pulled within one, 4-3, in the next frame, as third baseman Rylan Bannon slugged a two-run home run over the left field wall. Penn State got one run back in the bottom half as Helsel turned an infield single effectively into a triple after a two-base error, and he scored when Nadeau poked the ball through the right side with two outs. Xavier pulled within one again in the sixth, as first baseman Ethan Schmidt hit an RBI double off of Forsyth to make it a 5-4 game, but it would be the Musketeers' last hit until the ninth inning.
Penn State added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Hughes singled to start the frame, stayed alive on the bases on an error, and eventually scored on a wild pitch, and then Bowersox added an RBI-single. Xavier was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but Distasio only allowed one inherited runner to score on a wild pitch, as he walked one and struck out one en route to getting the final two outs.
Penn State and Xavier will begin a doubleheader Saturday at noon.