March 24, 2018
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. ââ'¬" Penn State LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa,) limited Rutgers to just four hits and two walks, but a second-inning error proved to be the difference as the Scarlet Knights defeated the Nittany Lions, 1-0, in Big Ten baseball action Saturday afternoon at Bainton Field.
Lehman worked six innings for Penn State (6-11, 0-2 Big Ten), striking out two and allowing just the unearned run, three hits and a walk. It was his fewest hits allowed in a six-plus inning start since allowing just one over seven innings as a freshman in 2015 against Central Connecticut State. Mock then yielded just a hit and walk and struck out one over the final two innings to give the Nittany Lions a chance at the plate.
Rutgers (13-7, 2-0 Big Ten) countered with LHP Harry Rutkowski,(3-0) who went 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven, allowing just four hits and two walks. RHP Collin Kiernan worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed two hits and struck out one, while RHP Serafino Brito (3) was perfect in the ninth for the save.
Rutgers got on the board with an unearned run in the second inning. With one out, right fielder Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) was unable to make a diving catch, allowing third baseman Carmen Sclafani to double, and Sclafani then scored from second with two outs on a potential inning-ending groundout.
Penn State threatened to score several times throughout the game. In the third with second baseman Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) and center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) reaching on back-to-back singles with one out, and both advanced into scoring position on a groundout, but another groundout ended the inning. The Nittany Lions similarly threatened in the fourth, as first baseman Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) walked and left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punxsutawney, Pa.) singled to lead-off the frame, and designated hitter Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.) sacrificed both forward a base. However, Rutkowski battled back with two strikeouts to strand both. Bowersox singled with one out in the fifth and stole second with two outs, but another Rutkowski strikeout ended the threat.
Neither team threatened with a base runner in the sixth, but in the seventh, the Nittany Lions again advanced a runner to third. Robison led off the frame with a walk, was sacrificed to second and tagged on a foul ball. Kiernan then entered to face Bowersox, and Bowersox flew out to center field to end the inning.
Third baseman Connor Klemann and Sbranti hit back-to-back singles with one out in the eighth, but Kiernan was able to induce a foul out and then earned a strikeout to keep Penn State off the scoreboard.
Bowersox and Sclafani were the only batters to tally two hits each in the game. Sclafani doubled for both of his hits and also walked.
Penn State and Rutgers will conclude the series Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
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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