April 7, 2018
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Resuming a game suspended after five innings due to weather Friday, Minnesota rallied from a run down Saturday to defeat Penn State, 7-6, in Big Ten baseball action at Purdue's Alexander Field.
Penn State (7-16, 1-6 Big Ten) led, 5-4, after five innings Friday, but Minnesota (19-10, 3-1 Big Ten) scored three runs in the first inning Saturday (bottom of the sixth). The second game of the three-game series, scheduled for Saturday, is in progress as of publishing time.
Center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) went a game-high 3-for-5 and scored twice to lead the Nittany Lions at the plate, while shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. For Minnesota, right fielder Ben Mezzenga went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while catcher Eli Wilson and center fielder Alex Boxwell tallied a hit and two RBIs each.
Both teams managed just six hits each but both drew eight walks each.
After Minnesota RHP Brett Schulze (6-0) worked a 1-2-3 inning to start the resumed game, the Golden Gophers retook the lead with three runs in the bottom half. Pinch-hitter Riley Smith led off with a single, and LHP Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (2-4) alternated strikeouts and walks to load the bases with two outs. Shortstop Terrin Vavra broke the trend with another walk though after battling to a full count, bringing home Smith to tie the game at 5-5. Wilson then singled to center to drive in two for a 7-5 lead.
The seventh and eighth innings were scoreless and right fielder Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) hit a sacrifice fly to pull Penn State within one in the ninth, but it was not enough as RHP Max Meyer (8) earned the final two outs to earn the save.
Lehman matched his season high of six strikeouts, pitching the final three innings for Penn State.
On Friday, the first three innings were scoreless, but Minnesota loaded the bases on walks in the fourth, and all three scored following a passed ball and a two-RBI single by Boxwell, giving the Golden Gophers a 5-4 lead.
The lead was short-lived as Penn State answered with five runs in the top of the fifth. Third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) singled with one out and Bowersox singled with two outs, forcing the Gophers to the bullpen. LHP Bubba Horton was unable to get an out though, walking all four batters he faced and allowing the Nittany Lions to tie the game at 3-3. RHP Jackson Rose then relieved Horton, but surrendered a base hit to center by Weisenseel that drove in two.
Minnesota got one run back in the bottom half of the fifth, as Penn State committed a pair of errors, but then the game was halted due to cold temperatures.
RHP Justin Hagenman (Voorhees, N.J.) started and worked five innings for Penn State, allowing four runs (two earned), on three hits and four walks with six strikeouts. RHP Sam Thoresen worked 4 2/3 innings for Minnesota, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
The three-game series, originally scheduled to be played at Minnesota, is being played at Purdue due to winter weather in Minneapolis.
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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