March 4, 2017
| 11 | 4 |
| Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif. | 342 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video: Postgame Comments |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
STOCKTON, Calif. ââ'¬" A strong start highlighted by a three-run first inning and a strong finish highlighted by a grand slam by Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) led Penn State to an 11-4 victory over Pacific in non-conference baseball action Saturday at Klein Family Field.
In addition to Helsel, Penn State (3-5) was powered by three-hit games from freshman centerfielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) and sophomore first baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.). Nadeau went 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, double, walk and stolen base, while Burger had a run and RBI. Right fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.), second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.), left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) and designated hitter Keith Leavitt (Manchester, Mass.) also had RBIs.
RHP Dakota Forsyth (Bethlehem, Pa.) (1-0) earned the win in relief, while RHP Nick Distasio (Oley, Pa.) (2) earned his second save by pitching the final 3 1/3, allowing just one hit and striking out three.
Pacific (4-4) was paced by first baseman Ryan Schalch, who went 2-for-4 with a double, run and RBI.
The Nittany Lions scored three runs in the first inning and would not let the Tigers come any closer than two runs for the rest of the game. Hughes reached on an error with one out in the first and advanced to second on a single up the middle by Burger, and then catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) and Giavedoni drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and plate him. Leavitt followed with a hard-hit, one-hop grounder to short that resulted in an out at second but scored Burger when the double play attempt failed, and then a wild pitch during the next at-bat scored Sloniger.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the second inning, as Helsel led the frame off with a three-base error when the catcher's throw to first sailed into foul ground in right field and he scored on a single up the middle by Nadeau.
Pacific got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Kevin Sandri.
Nadeau helped ignite a two-run inning in the top of the fourth by leading off with a single, swiping second, and then preserving an out by advancing to third on a ball in the dirt on a strikeout and drawing the throw away from first base. Hughes and Burger followed with back-to-back RBI-singles for a 6-1 lead.
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half to make it 6-3, chasing RHP Sal Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) after 3 1/3 innings. Schalch doubled with a runner on first and advanced to third on the throw to the plate, and he then scored on a wild pitch. Forsyth entered with one out and runners on the corners but induced a one-pitch pop-up to shallow right and struck the next batter out to end the threat.
Forsyth ran into trouble in the fourth, walking in a run to shrink the lead to 6-4, but LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) got a strikeout in a full count and then Distasio took over and induced a pop-up to end the frame.
An error, single and, with two outs, a hit batter loaded the bases for Pacific in the seventh, but Nadeau plucked a potential game-tying hit at the tips of the grass while running in at full speed from center.
A Nadeau double was followed by a Bowersox single in the eighth for an insurance run, and then Helsel put the game out of reach in the ninth with a grand slam. It was Penn State's first since 2010.
RHP Shelby Lackey (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Penn State will continue the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET and Monday at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET.