March 17, 2018
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Penn State first baseman Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) drove in two in his Medlar Field at Lubrano Park debut and the Nittany Lion bullpen preserved a one-run lead over the last three innings as Penn State defeated NJIT, 4-3, in the first game of a Saturday baseball doubleheader.
The second game is in progress as of publishing time.
Sbranti and third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) paced Penn State (5-8) at the plate, with both tallying two hits and one walk each. Sbranti added a triple and two RBIs, while Klemann scored twice and drove in one.
RHP Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) (2-1) earned the win, starting and working six innings, striking out six and allowing the three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. LHP Marko Boricich (Chicago, Ill.) was perfect in the seventh, and then RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) (3) yielded just a hit and walk while striking out one over the final two innings for his third save of the season.
Designated hitter Evan Pietronico drove in all three NJIT (7-6) runs, going 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and walk. RHP Sean Lubreski (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing all four runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. RHP Tommy Derer kept the Highlanders within striking distance, allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out four over the last three innings.
Penn State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning despite striking out in its first two plate appearances. With two outs, Klemann and Sbranti drew walks and left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then designated hitter Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) drove a single through the right side to drive home Klemann. Sbranti was thrown out at home to end the inning.
Sbranti factored in the scoring in the third inning through, tripling to center field with Klemann on for a 2-0 advantage. However, NJIT halved the deficit in the top of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Pietronico.
Penn State added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Bowersox and Sloniger led the inning off with hits and both scored. Bowersox singled and Sloniger doubled to move both into scoring position, and Klemann and Sbranti followed with an RBI-groundout and ââ'¬"single, respectively.
The runs would prove crucial as NJIT again pulled within one with two runs in the top of the sixth, as shortstop Justin Etts and third baseman David Marcano both led the inning off with hits and scored. Hagenman battled back to get two outs, but Pietronico singled through the right side to score both.
Both bullpens posted shutouts though, and the Nittany Lions held on, 4-3.
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.
Check back to GoPSUSports.com for continued updates on Penn State Baseball. Follow on Twitter at @PennStateBASE and Facebook at Penn State Baseball.