April 9, 2017
| 2 | 5 |
| Medlar Field at Lubrano Park | University Park, Pa. | |
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| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State carried a 2-1 lead from the third to the ninth, but Ohio State rallied with four runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Nittany Lions in the first game of a Big Ten baseball doubleheader Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The second game is underway.
The rally spoiled a fantastic outing by Penn State (11-18, 1-4 B1G) RHP Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) only yielded a third-inning run on 10 hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
Trailing 2-1, Ohio State (13-17, 2-6 B1G) first baseman Bo Coolen led the top of the ninth off with a solo home run to tie the game. Then after a strikeout and a pair of walks, third baseman Brady Cherry cleared the bases with a triple to right to give Ohio State a two-run lead, and he then scored on a sacrifice fly for the 5-2 margin.
Ohio State was first to strike in the second inning with back-to-back two-out hits. Catcher Jacob Barnwell doubled to left, and then designated hitter Zach Ratcliff hit a sharp grounder up the middle to score him.
Penn State appeared poised to answer in the bottom of the second, as third baseman Christian Helsel (Altoona, Pa.) singled and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) doubled down the right line to give the Lions two runners in scoring position with just one out, but RHP Jake Post was able to induce a shallow fly out and a routine grounder to end the inning.
Post was not able to get out of trouble in the third as the Lions loaded the bases with one out. A wild pitch during right fielder Braxton Giavedoni's (Punxsutawney, Pa.) at-bat allowed the first run to score, and then he hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring in the go-ahead run. Penn State loaded the bases again but couldn't get any across.
Ohio State threatened in the seventh, rallying from making two outs on the first two pitches to loading the bases. Hagenman got out of the jam though with a routine fly to left. Hagenman retired the first two in the eighth but again yielded back-to-back hits to give the Buckeyes runners on first and second, but he was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
The Buckeyes were able to put runs on the board in the ninth though. RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing the four runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout in 2/3 of an inning pitched.
RHP Kyle Michalik (1-1) earned the win with one pitch, getting the final out of the bottom of the eighth with a fly out. RHP Seth Kinkler (4) walked one and struck out one in the bottom of the ninth en route to earning the save.
Following the doubleheader, Penn State will continue its homestand Monday and Tuesday, hosting Binghamton and Bucknell, respectively. Both games are set to start 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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