March 10, 2017
| 4 | 2 |
| John Smith Field | Sacramento, Calif. | 468 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ââ'¬" Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) and Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) both homered and RHP Sal Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) and RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) combined to hold Sacramento State to four hits, as Penn State earned a 4-2 victory in non-conference baseball action Thursday evening in John Smith Field.
Freshman designated hitter Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) was also a key contributor, as he factored in two of Penn State's (5-7) runs, scoring one and driving in the final run in the ninth with a sacrifice fly following an 11-pitch at-bat. Classmate and centerfielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) drove in Giavedoni in the fifth with a double for the Nittany Lions' second run of the game.
Biasi (2-1) went toe-to-toe with Sacramento State (7-5) RHP Justin Dillon (2-1), who had thrown a no-hitter and limited No. 11 Washington to a hit and walk in his last two outings. Ranking second in the nation with a 0.18 WHIP entering the game with just two hits, two walks and a run allowed in 22.0 innings to go along with 25 strikeouts, Dillon surrendered three hits ââ'¬" all for extra bases ââ'¬" a walk and three runs to the Nittany Lions over seven innings. He also struck out five.
In a season-high 5 2/3 innings pitched, Biasi struck out a career-high nine, surrendering two runs on three hits and three walks. Distasio (3) then pitched the final 3 1/3 innings for his third save of the season. He struck out three and allowed just one hit and one walk.
Dillon cruised through the first four innings, only yielding a walk and striking out five, but he ran into trouble in the fifth, as Riotto led the frame off with a solo shot over the right field wall for his first home run of the season. Giavedoni was then plunked and able to advance to second on a wild pitch, allowing him to score easily on a double to right field by Nadeau.
Bowersox then led the sixth off with a solo shot over the left field wall for a 3-0 Penn State lead. It was the first home run of the sophomore's career.
Sacramento State got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs. Designated hitter Devin Lehman led the frame off with a single to center and, with one out, right fielder James Outman was plunked. Both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and then after Biasi earned a strikeout for the second out of the inning, another wild pitch allowed Lehman to score.
Another wild pitch resulted in a play at the plate on which Outman was initially ruled out, but after both teams left the field and an umpire conference, Outman was ruled safe. Distasio relieved Biasi, and after a pair of walks, ended the lengthy frame with a strikeout.
Distasio was then perfect in the seventh and eighth innings, getting some help from Nadeau for the final out of the eighth as the speedy centerfielder tracked down a ball in the gap and made a sliding grab.
Catcher Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) led the ninth off with a walk, was sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a balk, and then scored when Giavedoni lifted a fly ball into the outfield for an insurance run. Distasio worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to secure the victory.
Penn State and Sacramento State will continue the series Friday at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET and the finale will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.