March 18, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" A pitchers' duel through the first six innings was disrupted with an 11-run seventh, with NJIT scoring seven in the decisive frame to take an 8-6 victory over Penn State in non-conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Penn State (6-9) led NJIT (8-7) 2-0 after six innings, with both teams managing just one hit each, before both teams batted around in the seventh. NJIT limited Penn State to three hits for the game, but the first two were home runs, as third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) broke up the no-hit bid with a solo shot in the sixth and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) hit his first collegiate grand slam in the bottom of the seventh. However, the four runs were not enough to overcome the Highlanders' seven in the top half.
Redshirt freshman LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) enjoyed a career day for the Nittany Lions, throwing six shutout innings and striking out seven while allowing just one hit and one walk.
NJIT RHP Tyler Stafflinger (3-1) was perfect through four innings and carried his no-hitter into the sixth, but ran into trouble in the fifth after a two-out error resulted in designated hitter Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) reaching as Penn State's first base runner of the game. Stafflinger then walked second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) and right fielder Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) to load the bases, despite working both to full counts, and then walked shortstop Logan Goodnight (Wheeling, W.Va.) on four pitches to drive in Penn State's first run.
Penn State's first hit came in the sixth, as Klemann roped the first pitch he saw down the left line and inside the foul pole, giving Penn State a 2-0 lead.
NJIT took a 7-2 lead in the top of the seventh though, facing four Penn State pitchers. With LHP Marko Boricich (Chicago, Ill.) (0-2) on, the Highlanders led the inning off with three consecutive singles to load the bases, and then a hit batsman brought in the first run. RHP Jake Pilewicz (Sewickley, Pa.) came on and induced a force at home, but the Lions made another switch to RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) after center fielder Michael Anastasia worked a 2-0 count against Pilewicz. Despite the move, Anastasia singled to left to drive in two and give the Highlanders their first lead of the weekend at 3-2. After a strikeout, designated hitter Evan Pietronico drove in two more with a single for a 5-2 lead, and then left fielder Jesse Uttendorfer and third baseman David Marcano tallied an RBI each. RHP Conor Larkin (Royersford, Pa.) picked up the final out to end the inning and pitched the final two innings of the game too.
The Nittany Lions fought back in the bottom half. RHP Johnny Malatesta took over for Stafflinger but loaded the bases without surrendering a hit. A dropped fly ball in right field allowed Hughes to reach third to lead off the inning, and then Robison walked and Goodnight was plunked to set the table with no outs. Then after a strikeout, Sloniger who crushed a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam. Trailing 7-6, the Nittany Lions loaded the bases again with two walks and a single with two outs, but RHP Tommy Derer (1) was able to strikeout Hughes to end the inning.
Derer was perfect over the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his first save of the season, and he struck out three. NJIT added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
Penn State continues its homestand Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting Bucknell and Pittsburgh, respectively, with both games scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. The games will mark the 2018 debuts of the Two for Tuesday and Wing Wednesday deals. At every Tuesday game fans can purchase two tickets for the price of one. Any fan who purchases a full price ticket is eligible to claim an additional ticket at no charge. At every Wednesday game, fans can enjoy wings at the ballpark at the following prices: Three wings for $3, six wings for $5.50 and 12 wings for $10.
Additionally, the first 200 fans to arrive at the Pitt game Wednesday will receive free hot chocolate. It will also be televised live on BTN.
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.