March 24, 2017
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| Medlar Field at Lubrano Park | University Park, Pa. | 734 | |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State responded to a three-run home run with an avalanche of runs Friday, as the Nittany Lions used a nine-run fifth inning to defeat Columbia, 11-7, in non-conference baseball action on Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Penn State's (8-11) second, third, and fourth spots in the lineup drove in seven of the 11 runs, and all nine starters reached base at least once. It was the Nittany Lions' second straight victory, keeping them undefeated early in their home 2017 home slate.
Three-hole hitter and first baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) brought home three with a single and double, while the batters ahead of him and behind him, left fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) and Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.), both drove in two each on singles. Penn State also had production from the bottom of the lineup, as freshman shortstop and ninth-batter Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) reached base four times with three singles and a walk and scored twice, and eighth batter and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Burger gave Penn State a 2-0 lead over Columbia (1-12) in the third inning by going the opposite way to right field with a two-RBI base hit. RHP Sal Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) (3-2) kept Columbia off the scoreboard until the fifth inning when he surrendered back-to-back walks with two outs, and then gave up a three-run home run to third baseman Randell Kanemaru, who led the team with two hits and a walk.
The home run was just one of two hits allowed by Biasi, as he also struck out eight against five walks.
The Nittany Lions responded with nine runs in the bottom half to take the lead for good, sending 13 batters to the plate. With two on and one down, Burger tied the game with an RBI-double, and then Bowersox followed with a single to shallow left behind third base to score two more for a 5-3 lead.
Penn State did not relent though, loading the bases for third baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.), still with one out. Helsel hit a bouncer to third, but Kanemaru's throw sailed into foul ground in right field, clearing the bases for an 8-3 lead and allowing Helsel to reach third. Sloniger singled down the right line to plate Helsel, bringing Weisenseel, who had walked to lead-off the inning but was thrown out at home trying to score from first on a Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) double, up to bat for a second time. Weisenseel singled, and after Sloniger advanced a base on a fly out, Weisenseel swiped second, putting him into position to score when Riotto singled through the right side after walking earlier in the inning as well.
All but three of the runs were earned.
Columbia was only able to narrow the margin as it added three unearned runs in the sixth and a run in the ninth.
RHP Ethan Abrams (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
Penn State and Columbia will continue the series Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader.
Season, flex and single-game ticket options for the 2017 Penn State baseball season in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are now on sale by clicking here or by calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711. Ask about the hospitality suite option for season ticket holders.
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