April 29, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Northwestern was able to make an early lead last for a 6-3 victory over Penn State Sunday afternoon in Big Ten baseball action in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The Penn State (9-28, 1-17 Big Ten) bullpen pitched all nine innings, and allowed just three earned runs. RHP Kyle Virbitsky (Media, Pa.) and LHP Marko Boricich (Chicago, Ill.) kept Northwestern (13-24, 4-14 Big Ten) off the scoreboard over the final four innings, but the Nittany Lions were unable to overcome a four-run deficit.
Third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) led Penn State offensively, reaching base three times on a base hit, walk and hit by pitch and hitting a sacrifice fly. Designated hitter Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) and left fielder Braxton Giavedoni (Punsutawney, Pa.) also tallied sac flies.
Northwestern used four pitchers to limit Penn State to four hits, overcoming six walks and four hit batsmen. LHP Jack Pagliarini did not allow a hit in two-plus innings of work, but allowed a run each in the second and third innings before giving way to RHP Anthony Alepra (2-0), who pitched a game-high four innings and allowed just one run on four hits with two strikeouts. RHP Josh Levy worked the seventh after Alepra started the frame, and RHP Tommy Bordignon (5) yielded just two walks for the final two innings for the save.
Catcher Jack Claeys led the Wildcats at the dish, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Northwestern took advantage of a shaky start by LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to score a run in the first inning. Claeys singled in the run after Lehman allowed a single and walk to start the game, and the Nittany Lions went to the bullpen when a walk loaded the bases four batters in. RHP Bailey Dees (Charlotte, N.C.) came on and got the Lions out of the jam with help from shortstop Tommy Gibson (Williamstown, N.J.), as Gibson caught a liner for the inning's first out and then turned a 6-4 double play to end the inning.
Penn State tied the game without a hit in the second, as Pagliarini loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter and Sbranti hit a sacrifice fly.
Northwestern went back ahead in the top of the third on back-to-back RBI-doubles by second baseman Alex Erro and Claeys. Penn State got a run back in the bottom half though despite no hits, as Klemann walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Giavedoni.
The fourth was scoreless but Northwestern doubled its run total in the fifth on a pair of bases-loaded walks and a sacrifice fly by left fielder Leo Kaplan, taking a 6-2 lead.
Klemann added a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the game's final score. The Nittany Lions loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but were unable to score.
Penn State will take the week off for exams before hosting Michigan State for a three-game Big Ten series opening Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Tickets for the 2018 Penn State baseball 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.
Notes: Penn State started a season-high five freshman position players and used two freshmen as pitchers … Members of the team had their heads shaved on the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park concourse to raise awareness in the fight against pediatric cancer, supporting the Vs. Cancer and THON organizations.