UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Minnesota came out on top on both ends of a Big Ten baseball doubleheader with Penn State Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Golden Gophers broke a tie in the ninth inning of the first game for a 7-5 win, and then fended off a late rally in the second game to hang on, 8-6.
Despite the setback, Penn State's (13-6, 0-3 Big Ten) overall record ranks as its best since the 2000 team also started 13-6.
Center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored to pace the Nittany Lions at the plate in the first game, while catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run to lead in the second. Outfielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) went 3-for-7 over both games with a two-run double and walk in the second.
Minnesota totaled 23 hits over the two games, led by a 5-for-8 effort by shortstop Jordan Kozicky that included a home run and five RBIs. RHP Brett Schulze (3) earned saves in both.
Game 1
Penn State was unable to hold on to an early 3-0 lead in a back-and-forth game decided in the ninth inning.
Going into the ninth tied at 5-5, Minnesota right fielder Easton Bertrand homered to give the Gophers the lead. Third baseman Jack Wassel then scored off an error to bring the score to 7-5, and Schulze was perfect in the bottom half, striking out two for his first save of the day.
The Nittany Lions had a fast start in the game, chasing RHP Patrick Frederickson, the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year after just one out and scoring three first-inning runs. Bowersox doubled with one out, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.), who hit a potential double play ball that was booted to allow Bowersox to score. Frederickson surrendered another walk to drive in another run, and was lifted for LHP Jeff Fasching, who was able to get the second out, but allowed, Hughes to single to short to drive in another before the inning ended.
Minnesota came right back in the second inning though, bringing the score to 3-2 on a two-RBI single by second baseman Zack Raabe. The Golden Gophers then went ahead, 4-3, in the next inning on an RBI-double by first baseman Cole McDevitt and a sacrifice fly by Kozicky.
Penn State rallied to regain the lead in the fifth inning, as second baseman Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) and Bowersox both scored on a double to center by right fielder by Kris Kremer (Hershey, Pa.), but they were the last runs the Nittany Lions would manage against the Minnesota bullpen.
Minnesota was able to get three runs off RHP Mason Mellott (4-1) (State College, Pa.), to deal the reliever his first loss after four wins and three saves in his first eight appearances. The Gophers tied the game in the seventh on an RBI-single by McDevitt before Bertrand's homer tipped the game in their favor in the ninth.
RHP Bailey Dees (Charlotte, N.C.) started for Penn State and worked 4.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. RHP Jake Stevenson (1-1) earned the win for the Gophers with 4.0 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out five.
Game 2
Minnesota built a 7-0 lead by the top of the fourth inning in the second game, but Penn State fought back to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
Designated hitter Eduardo Estrada and Kozicky drove in runs in the first and third innings, respectively, before Minnesota took a commanding lead with a five-run fourth. Jack Wassel and Hmielewski each had a solo home run in the fourth before the Nittany Lions turned to RHP Kyle Virbitsky (Media, Pa.). However, with one on and two more walks allowed to load the bases, the Gophers added three more runs on a bases-clearing double by Kozicky. Right fielder Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.) attempted to make a diving catch on the play to end the inning, but he was unable to come up with it and the ball kicked off his glove into foul territory.
Penn State started chipping back into the game though, getting their first run on the board in the bottom half of the inning after the first three reached base and Homer hit a sacrifice fly.
Sloniger, who singled off the top of the 18.55-foot tall right field wall in the fourth, put a little more on his swing in the sixth and managed to get it over for a two-run homer, making it a 7-3 game. However, Minnesota got one back on an RBI-single by catcher Chase Stanky in the seventh for an 8-3 lead.
Penn State pressured Minnesota in the ninth with three runs. Hendershot and Sloniger led the inning off with back-to-back singles, and after a Homer groundout advanced both, third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) drove in one on another groundout, then Hippenhammer found the gap in left center for a two-run double.
Minnesota went back to the bullpen for the final out, as Schulze returned for a groundout.
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) (2-1) took his first loss of the season, pitching for the first time since Mar. 3 against Duke. He worked 3.1 innings and was charged with five runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. RHP Joshua Culliver (2-1) earned the win, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts in six innings in the start for Minnesota.
Penn State returns to action Tuesday hosting Binghamton at 6:30 p.m. to conclude a seven-game homestand.
Tickets for the 2019 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.
Follow Penn State baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @PennStateBASE and Facebook at /pennstatebaseball for all of the latest news and updates and behind the scenes action.
Game Notes: Jacob Padilla extended his reached base streak to all 12 games he has played in … Jordan Bowersox extended his hitting streak to seven games in the first game with his team-best seventh multi-hit game, but was held hitless in the second … Kyle Virbitsky tied his career high for strikeouts with three, as well as passing his season high for innings pitched with 3.2 … Ryan Sloniger had a season high for RBIs with two and a season high for hits with three … Mac Hippenhammer surpassed his career high for RBI's in a game with two.