May 5, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Penn State center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) reached base four times, but Michigan State avoided a Nittany Lion sweep, breaking a deadlocked game in the fifth inning en route to a 6-4 victory in the second game of a Big Ten baseball doubleheader.
Penn State (11-29, 3-18 Big Ten) won the first game of the day, 6-1, for its second-straight win over Michigan State (17-25, 8-9 Big Ten), earning its first Big Ten series win since 2016 and its first over the Spartans since 2012.
In the finale, Bowersox was the lone Nittany Lion to tally multiple hits, hitting three singles and walking once as part of a 3-for-4 game that included two runs scored. Catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) also scored two runs, reaching base twice on a single and a walk, and designated hitter Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) drove in a game-high two runs on a double.
Center fielder Danny Gleaves paced the Spartan offense, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored two doubles and an RBI. Second baseman Justin Antoncic broke the deadlock with an RBI-single in the fifth and designated hitter Chad Roskelly drove in an insurance run in the top of the eighth.
Both bullpens excelled. For Michigan State, RHPs Jake Lowery (3.0 IP, 3 K) and Riley McCauley (2.0 IP, 4K) combined to hold Penn State to just three hits and a walk over the final five innings, with McCauley earning his fourth save of the season. The Nittany Lion bullpen worked the final eight innings, yielding two runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. RHP Bailey Dees (Charlotte, N.C.) (1-2) worked 3 1/3 innings and struck out three but was tagged with the loss after allowing the final go-ahead run.
Michigan State was the first to score with a run in the top of the first on an error, but Penn State rallied in the bottom half with three-straight hits to lead off, as Bowersox, Sloniger and third basenman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) all singled, and Klemann's hit through the left side scored Bowersox. Sloniger then advanced to third on a line out to right and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.)
The Spartans went ahead 4-2 in the top of the second though, taking advantage of another error for a run and adding RBI-singles from catcher Nic Lacayo and Gleaves. However, Penn State tied the game in the bottom of the third, as Bowersox and Sloniger both scored on a double by Sbranti.
The Spartan bullpen kept Penn State in check the rest of the way and Michigan State went ahead for good in the fifth.
Penn State next plays at Pittsburgh Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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.
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