WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A fourth-inning run was the difference as Purdue defeated Penn State, 1-0, in Big Ten baseball action Friday afternoon at Alexander Field.
Purdue (9-16, 3-1 Big Ten) scored in the fourth inning on an RBI-double by designated hitter Owen Jansen and was able to keep Penn State (14-7, 0-4 Big Ten) off the board.
The loss spoiled another strong outing by LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) (2-3). He allowed just the one run on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It marked the sixth time in seven starts that he allowed just one earned run or less.
The Boilermakers were led by LHP Patrick J. Smith (3-1), who enjoyed a career day striking out nine and allowing just four hits and two walks over seven-plus innings. Two of the hits he allowed were extra base hits to Penn State left fielder Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) – a double with two outs in the third inning and a triple to lead-off the eighth inning.
Homer's triple in the eighth created Penn State's best opportunity to score, but Purdue brought the infield in and RHP Trent Johnson to the mound to keep the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard. Shortstop Evan Albrecht was able to cut-off a sharp grounder by center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) for the first out, and then Johnson struck out the next two to end the inning.
Penn State also had a runner on third with less than two outs in the sixth inning after base hits by Bowersox and first baseman Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.), but Smith struck out the next two to end the inning.
RHP Bo Hofstra (3) struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save.
Additional offensive leaders for Purdue included second baseman Ryan Howe, who went 3-for-3, and catcher Zac Fascia, who went 2-for-3 and scored the lone run.
Penn State and Purdue continue the series with games Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
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.
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Game Notes: Homer's triple was his first at Penn State … Jacob Padilla failed to reach base for the Nittany Lions for the first time after reaching in his first 12 games … Penn State's 14-7 record is its best since opening the 2000 season 15-6 … Penn State fell to 6-1 in one-run games this season.
