Feb. 17, 2018
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ELON, N.C. -- A career day for redshirt sophomore Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) and a seven-run sixth inning powered Penn State to an 8-6, series-clinching win over Elon in non-conference baseball action Saturday at Latham Park.
Klemann, who was limited to less than 40 games over his first two seasons due to injury, matched his career high of two hits, hit his first career home run and hit a two-run double for a career-high three-RBIs to pace the Penn State (2-0). Shortstop Logan Goodnight (Wheeling, W.Va.) hit a two-run home run to start the Nittany Lions' sixth inning scoring, which all came with two outs, while sophomore Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) posted his sixth-career three-hit game.
The Nittany Lions were 9-for-18 batting with two outs for the game.
LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (1-0), starting for the first time since March of last season, worked five innings, allowing a run on three hits and a walk with one strikeout. Freshman Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) (1) made his debut in the ninth inning preserving Penn State's two-run lead over Elon (0-2).
The first three innings were scoreless, but for the second consecutive game, Penn State led the fourth inning off with a home run, as Klemann slugged the first of his career into the trees beyond the left field wall.
Lehman was perfect through the first eight batters before yielding a double to Elon center fielder Zach Evers in the third inning. Evers struck again in the fifth inning, as he followed third baseman Cam Devanney's two-out, line-drive single just over the reach of Hughes with an RBI-triple off the right field wall to tie the game at 1-1.
Elon starter RHP Kyle Brnovich (0-1) worked five innings, striking out nine and allowing one run on three hits and four walks before turning it over to the bullpen to start the sixth inning. The game was tied 1-1 entering the frame and it appeared it would stay that way after Elon recorded a pair of outs. Klemann led the inning off with a strikeout, and then freshman designated hitter Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) walked and second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) fouled out to first base, bringing Goodnight, the nine-hole hitter, to the dish with two outs.
The sophomore did not disappoint, as he delivered with a home run over the left field wall on an 0-1 pitch to give Penn State a 3-1 lead. Center fielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) and right fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) followed with a single and double, respectively, and first baseman Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) tallied his first career RBIs by popping a single into shallow right field off the handle of the bat, scoring both. Giavedoni and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) followed with singles, with Sloniger's scoring Sbranti. Klemann then atoned for his strikeout earlier in the inning, doubling to the left gap to score both and give Penn State an 8-1 lead.
All seven runs were charged to Elon reliever Robbie Welhaf. Sean Byrnes and Jared Wetherbee then combined to hold Penn State scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings, striking out seven, to give the Phoenix an opportunity to climb back into the game.
Freshman Connor Larkin (Royersford, Pa.) made his debut for Penn State on the mound in the bottom half of the sixth inning, yielding two hits but striking out three. He was not as fortunate in the seventh though, as he battled the first three Elon batters to full counts, but lost all of them to walks. Larkin induced a fly out, but yielded three-straight singles and four runs. Senior RHP Jake Pilewicz (Sewickly, Pa.) took over and retired the next two batters, striking out one, to preserve a three-run lead for Penn State going into the eighth.
Pilewicz allowed a solo home run to first baseman Shawn Blake, who was one of three Elon batters with two hits for the game and the game leader with three runs scored, to make it an 8-6 game heading into the ninth inning.
Penn State head coach Rob Cooper turned the ball over to Mellott, who got off to an inauspicious start with five consecutive balls and two walks, but he retired the next three batters, striking out one, earn the save.
Penn State and Elon will conclude the game Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m.
Penn State's home opener is set for Wednesday, March 14. Season, flex and single-game tickets are available online at GoPSUsports.com or by calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711.
Notes: The game started at 11 a.m., three hours before its originally scheduled start time, due to the threat of rain ... Freshman Derek Orndorff made his Penn State debut in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter ... The last time Penn State opened a season 2-0 was in 2011 ... Penn State clinched its first season-opening road series since 2014 (at Gardner-Webb).