March 10, 2018
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PHOENIX -- Center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) went 3-for-4 with a career high-matching three RBIs to help Penn State build an early lead, but Grand Canyon rallied for a walk-off, 8-7 win in non-conference baseball action Friday evening in GCU Ballpark.
Penn State (4-7) led by as many as four after the fourth inning and took a 7-4 lead after the top of the seventh, but GCU (5-8) scored three in the bottom half of the seventh to tie it and one in the bottom of the ninth to win it. Center fielder Preston Pavlica drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly.
Although hits were even at 11 apiece and Penn State benefitted from three errors for three unearned runs, PSU stranded 11 base runners to GCU's six.
The five Nittany Lions that tallied hits in the game all enjoyed multi-hit games. Lead-off batter Bowersox led the way with three hits, including a double that drove in two runs, and added a sacrifice fly for a three-RBI night. Batting second and third in the order, catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with a walk and third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) went 2-for-5. Penn State's eight and nine hitters had two hits each, with left fielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) scoring all three times he reached base (two singles and walk) and shortstop Tommy Gibson (Williamstown, N.J.) driving in his first two career RBIs.
GCU was paced at the plate by second baseman Pikai Winchester, who went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, a run and a sacrifice bunt. Pinch-hitter Zach Mallis hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and left fielder Kona Quiggle reached base three times, adding a solo home run in the fifth, while also touching home after both of the walks he drew.
Penn State started off strong at the plate as Bowersox and Sloniger led the game off with singles up the middle, and then with two outs and Bowersox on third, he scored on a mishandled ball off the bat of designated hitter Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.).
The Nittany Lions took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning with some two-out offense. Nadeau drew a two-out walk and then stole second, and he scored when Gibson blooped a single into center field. However, GCU strung together three hits with two outs in the bottom half, and catcher Greg Barnes drove in a run to cut the lead in half.
Penn State added three runs in the fourth, highlighted by a Bowersox two-RBI single to center with the bases loaded. After a strikeout, Klemann walked to load the bases again, chasing starter RHP Mike Lundin after 3 1/3 innings. LHP Josh Andrews took over and walked first baseman Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) on four pitches to drive in another run, but battled back from a 3-0 count to Giavedoni for a strikeout, and then earned another strike out to end the inning.
GCU used the long ball in the fifth to pull back within one, as Mallis hit a two-run home run and Quiggle followed with a solo shot.
The sixth was scoreless despite Bowersox doubling off the center field wall to start the inning and Sloniger following with a walk. Both moved into scoring position with two outs, but were stranded.
Both teams added runs in the seventh. In the top half for Penn State, right fielder Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) reached on an error and Nadeau singled him to third and advanced to second on a misdirected throw. Gibson then put down a perfectly-placed squeeze bunt, inducing a late throw home and reaching first safely. Nadeau advanced to third on the play, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bowersox, giving the Lions a 7-4 lead.
The three-run lead was short-lived though as GCU tied the game in the bottom half, scoring three runs with two outs. Pinch-hitter Ian Evans drove in the first run with a single, and after a walk to load the bases, Winchester drove in two more with a base hit to right.
The eighth was scoreless and RHP Mick Vorhof (1-2) struck out the Penn State side in the top of the ninth.
Quiggle led the bottom of the ninth off with a walk and right fielder Quin Cotton singled through the right side to give the Lopes runners on the corners. LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) (0-2) then intentionally walked Evans to create more force out opportunities, while Logan Goodnight (Wheeling, W.Va.) replaced Nadeau in left but played as a fifth infielder. However, Pavlica was able to lift a fly ball to right field, and Robison's throw home was not in time.
RHP Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) started for Penn State and went six innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. GCU's bullpen surrendered just two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over the final 5 2/3 innings.
The series finale is set for 4 p.m. ET Saturday.
Penn State's home opener is set for Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. against Mount St. Mary's. 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.
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