Feb. 25, 2018
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CARY, N.C. - An eight-run first inning powered No. 23 St. John's past Penn State, 18-4, in non-conference baseball action Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
Designated hitter Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.) came off the bench and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored to paces Penn State (3-3) offensively. The Lions struggled on the mound though. Senior Jake Pilewicz (Sewickley, Pa.) had the most success, working three perfect innings and striking out one in relief.
St. John's (7-0) was paced offensively by catcher Wyatt Mascarella, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, four RBIs and a walk. RHP Michael LoPresti (2-0) worked six innings, yielding just one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
The Red Storm loaded the bases to start the game, and the first run scored on a fielder's choice play. Second baseman Josh Shaw followed with a double to score one more, and then after a walk loaded the bases, right fielder Anthony Brocato singled through the left side to drive in two more for a 4-0 advantage. Mascarella doubled to score two more, and then left fielder Matt Woods tripled to score Mascarella. Third baseman John Valente, in his second at-bat of the inning, grounded out to drive Woods home for the 8-0 lead.
Rob Boselli III hit a sacrifice fly in the second for a 9-0 advantage, and then Penn State got on the scoreboard in the fourth, loading the bases and tallying a run on an infield hit by first baseman Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.). St. John's answered with four more runs in the fifth though for a 13-1 lead.
Penn State scored twice in the seventh, as catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) doubled to drive in one run and left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) hit a sacrifice fly to score Hendershot, who had singled in his first career at-bat earlier in the frame.
St. John's scored two in the eighth and then three in the ninth, highlighted by another Mascarella double that scored two. Klemann drove home Hendershot in the bottom half of the ninth for the final margin.
Penn State's spring break trip is next. It opens with three games at UC Santa Barbara Saturday-Monday, March 3-5, and then concludes with three games against Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Thursday-Saturday, March 8-10.
Penn State's home opener is set for Wednesday, March 14. Season, flex and single-game tickets for the 2018 season, presented by Family Clothesline, are available online at GoPSUsports.com or by calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711.