| 5 | 8 |
| Medlar Field at Lubrano Park | University Park, Pa. | 686 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video : Coach Cooper Postgame |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Columbia rallied from a run down in the top of the ninth to defeat Penn State, 8-5, Sunday in non-conference baseball action at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth, third baseman AJ DiFillipo cleared the bases with a double to right to give Columbia (3-13) a 6-4 advantage. A sacrifice fly by centerfielder Shane Adams and an RBI-triple by designated hitter Chandler Bengtson gave the Lions insurance runs, and Penn State (9-13) could only muster one in the bottom half.
The Nittany Lions had just regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth for the first time since the top of the fifth. Penn State entered the eighth trailing, 3-2, but right fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) hit an RBI-double with two outs and centerfielder Jordan Bowersox followed with a single to score him for the go-ahead run.
Bowersox and shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) led the Nittany Lions with two hits and an RBI each, accounting for four of the team's seven hits on the day. Weisenseel stole two bags and Giavedoni and Bowersox both stole a bag to go along with their doubles.
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) enjoyed another strong start, striking out a career-high seven in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed two hits, walked one and hit one. The latter ended up scoring after he left the game with one out in the fifth.
Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on runs scored by Giavedoni and designated hitter Keith Leavitt (Manchester, Mass.. Giavedoni was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off and Leavitt walked with two outs, and with both running, Weisenseel lined a single up the middle to score Giavedoni and move Leavitt to third. Leavitt then scored on an errant throw when Weisenseel stole second base.
However, Columbia was able to score three runs with two outs in the fifth. Mock sandwiched a strikeout in between a walk and hit batsman, and he was then relieved by RHP Nick Distasio (2-1) (Oley, Pa.) After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, right fielder Julian Bury drove in both with a single to center to tie the game, and he to advanced second on the throw. Left fielder Ben Porter immediately followed with a single to center for the go-ahead run.
Bury paced Columbia at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Porter also enjoyed a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
Distasio worked out of jams in the sixth and seventh to keep Columbia from building its lead, but Lions' RHP Ty Wiest kept Penn State in check until being relieved with one out and one on in the seventh. Bowersox led the inning off with a double and was sacrificed to third, so Columbia turned to RHP Harrisen Egly (1-3), and Egly was able to get a soft fly out, and then after a walk and stolen base, an inning-ending strikeout.
Wiest allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.
Penn State was able to score on Egly in the eighth, but it was not enough as Columbia responded in the ninth. The Nittany Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half to bring the tying run to the plate, but RHP Ian Burns was able to get a double-play ball and yielded only one unearned run for the final margin.
Penn State will host a pair of midweek contests before opening Big Ten play Friday at Michigan. The Nittany Lions will host Binghamton for "Two for Tuesday" at 6:30 p.m. - where fans can buy one ticket and get another free - and Cornell for "Wing Wednesday," also at 6:30 p.m.
Season, flex and single-game ticket options for the 2017 Penn State baseball season in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are now on sale at GoPSUsports.com 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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