WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue walked-off in the 10th inning on a sacrifice fly to defeat Penn State baseball, 2-1, on a lengthy Sunday at Alexander Field, clinching the Big Ten baseball series between the teams and capping an unusual day.
The two teams were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader starting at noon after rain and snow forced the postponement of Saturday's game, but the game was ultimately delayed five hours to 5 p.m. due to low AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures. By Big Ten rule, pitcher warmups cannot begin until the RealFeel temperature reaches 28 degrees.
First pitch time was moved back to 1 p.m. early in the morning based on the forecast, and Penn State arrived at the ballpark at 10:45 a.m. However, the temperature ultimately hovered in the mid 20's, despite brilliant sunshine, until approximately 4 p.m. Also by Big Ten rule, the last game could not start after 9 p.m., so with the first game not ending until 8:31 p.m., the third game of the series was canceled.
When Sunday's game did get underway, it was scoreless through five innings. Penn State (14-8, 0-5 Big Ten) scored its first run of the series in the top of the sixth, as first baseman Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.) went the opposite way with two outs to drive Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) home from third base.
The lead was short-lived though as Purdue (10-16, 4-1 Big Ten) took advantage of an error in the bottom half. Catcher Zac Fascia drew a one-out walk and then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. First baseman Nick Evarts and Fascia then executed a suicide squeeze play, with Evarts laying down a bunt for a base hit and Fascia scoring the tying run.
The next three innings were scoreless, sending the game to the 10th. In the bottom half, the Boilermakers took advantage of a dusk sky, as a pop-up off the bat of designated hitter Owen Jansen got lost against the backdrop and fell in shallow left untouched for a one-out double. A wild pitch then advanced him to third, allowing right fielder Cole McKenzie to hit a sacrifice fly to right to drive home the game-winning run.
The Nittany Lions held Purdue to just five hits. RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) was stellar in the first five innings for Penn State, striking out seven and allowing just one hit and three walks in five innings pitched. RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) was also strong in 3.2 innings, striking out one and allowing three hits. RHP Kyle Virbitsky (Media, Pa.) (1-1) was tagged with the loss after working the 10th.
Homer led the Nittany Lions at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, and Hendershot and right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) also had two-hit games, each tallying two hits each. The Lions out-hit the Boilers, 10-5.
RHP Andrew Bohm went 5.2 innings for Purdue, allowing the one run on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Trent Johnson also struck out six, doing so over 2.1 innings and allowing just Hendershot's RBI-single. RHP Bo Hofstra (2-1) struck out three over the final two innings, allowing just two hits to get the win.
Penn State next returns to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a pair of games, hosting Bucknell Tuesday and Youngstown State Wednesday. Both games are set for 6:30 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.
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.
