April 23, 2017
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| Medlar Field at Lubrano Park | University Park, Pa. | 1678 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Video: Coach Cooper Postgame | Players Postgame | Walk-off Hit |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Freshman right fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) tipped a tie game in Penn State's favor with a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 victory over Northwestern in Big Ten baseball action Sunday afternoon on Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
All of the scoring in the game took place in the last four innings. Left fielder Joe Hoscheit hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give Northwestern (16-23, 5-7 B1G) a 1-0 lead, but Penn State (13-26, 2-10 B1G) rallied in the final three innings.
Shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) tripled with one out in the seventh, and designated hitter Alex Malinsky (Apex, N.C.) hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to tie the game at 1-1. Despite getting a runner to third with no outs in the eighth, the Nittany Lions left the bases loaded. However, they did not make the same mistake in the ninth though as Giavedoni drove the first pitch he saw into left field.
With one out in the ninth, third baseman Logan Goodnight (Wheeling, W.Va.) started setting the table for Giavedoni with a base hit that dropped just in front of the left fielder. Second baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) followed with a base hit to center to cap a 3-for-5 day at the plate, and centerfielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) walked to load the bases.
The Lions overcame 12 stranded base runners, out-hitting Northwestern 7-3 and out-walking them 7-2.
Both teams received strong starting pitching efforts. RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) worked a career-high six innings with the only run allowed coming on the home run by Hoscheit. He yielded just two hits and two walks, not giving up a hit until the fifth inning with two outs when third baseman Connor Lind singled to left field. Mock also struck out five. It was RHP Nick Distasio (3-1) (Oley, Pa.) who earned the win though, holding the Wildcats to just one hit over the final three innings.
LHP Matt Gannon walked four but limited Penn State to three hits and no runs over the first six innings. Four relievers worked the final three innings with RHP Sam Lawrence (2-2) suffering the loss.
Penn State will conclude its five-game homestand Wednesday hosting Lafayette at 6:30 p.m.
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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