Feb. 26, 2017
| 6 | 1 |
| Coleman Field - USA Baseball NTC | Cary, N.C. | 147 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
CARY, N.C. -- All of the scoring took place in the eighth inning, as Penn State scored six runs in the frame to defeat Xavier, 6-1, in non-conference baseball action Sunday afternoon on Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
Penn State (2-5) had been held to just two hits through the first seven innings by Xavier's (4-4) LHP Greg Jacknewtiz, who racked up 13 strikeouts, but scored six runs on four hits and three walks against the Musketeer bullpen.
The Nittany Lions used four pitchers to limit the Musketeers to one run on six hits. Freshman RHP Myles Gayman (Greencastle, Pa.) yielded just two hits and struck out two in 3 2/3 innings before being lifted on a pitch count. RHP Jake Pilewicz finished the fourth and was lifted after getting into a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with two. outs, but RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) (1-0) ended the frame with a strikeout and pitched the next three innings.
Distasio struck out the side in the sixth and was perfect in the seventh before getting touched for a run in the eighth on three hits and a walk. He earned the win and struck out five.
LHP Sully Stadler (0-1) took over for Xavier on the mound to start the eighth with a 1-0 lead, and walked shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) on four pitches for Penn State's third base runner of the game at that point. Third baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) sacrificed Weisenseel to second and centerfielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) slapped a single up the middle to score Weisenseel from second to tie the game at 1-1.
That brought the top of the lineup back up, and designated hitter Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) delivered with a single to left, and then second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) walked to load the bases for first baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.)
Burger drove the go-ahead runs in with a two-run single through the left side, and right fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) doubled down the left field line to score two more for a 5-1 lead. Bowersox advanced to third on the play and scored on a wild pitch for the final margin.
Xavier's run came on an RBI-double by designated hitter Connor Grames in the top of the eighth. The Musketeers then loaded the bases with one out, but hit into a 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.
Hughes and Helsel had Penn State's lone hits off of Jacknewitz -- both doubles -- in the first and sixth innings.
RHP Schuyler Bates (Ossining, N.Y.) struck out one and allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth.
Penn State will next head west for a seven-game trip in northern California starting Saturday at Pacific at 5 p.m. ET.