UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State limited Nebraska to four hits, but a three-run sixth inning tipped the game in favor of the Huskers, as the Nittany Lions were defeated, 3-2, in Big Ten baseball action Friday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Penn State (17-13, 1-8 Big Ten) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with four singles. Left fielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) and center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) led off with a base-hit each, and with one out, first baseman Parker Hendershot drove in Nadeau from second with a base hit to left, and with two outs, designated hitter Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) drove in Bowersox from third with a base hit.
However, RHP Matt Waldron (5-0) settled in for Nebraska (18-10) and retired 10 straight, with the exception of an error in the second inning, from the end of the first inning through the fourth, and he and the Huskers bullpen limited the Lions to just three hits over the remainder of the game.
Nebraska took the lead with a three-run sixth inning. LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) had allowed just one hit in the first five innings, but at the start of the frame he issued a walk and left fielder Keegan Watson followed a home run to left to tie the game at 2-2. RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) relieved Biasi, but the Huskers managed to tally two more hits before scoring the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice off the bat of first baseman Colby Gomes.
Penn State managed just a hit in the eighth and then Gomes (5) took the mound and struck out two in a perfect ninth or the save.
Biasi struck out four and allowed just two hits and two runs, but walked six, in five-plus innings, while Waldron allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts over seven innings. For Biasi, it was just the second time this season he had give two or more earned runs (nine starts).
Mellott settled in and was perfect after the sixth, striking out five and allowing the one run on two hits in four innings of work.
Important Parking Info for Saturday
Penn State and Nebraska will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 3 p.m. Fans attending Saturday's games are reminded to arrive on campus earlier than normal in order to assist traffic flow and parking with the Blue-White Game, also starting at 3 p.m. Fans are encouraged to access the Jordan East parking lot by heading Northbound on Porter Road and turning into lots south of Beaver Stadium prior to 4:30 p.m. because many roads, including Porter Road, will be turned into a one-way exit for football traffic at 5 p.m. Gates at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park will open at 2 p.m.
The 2019 Penn State baseball season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Tickets are on sale online by clicking here 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.
NOTES: With nine strikeouts on the afternoon, Penn State has now nine or more batters in 24 out of 30 games this season … Jordan Bowersox extended his hitting streak to 11 games … Seven of Penn State's eight conference losses have been by two or less runs, and four of those have been one run losses … 11 of Penn State's 30 games have been decided by one run, with Penn State going 7-4 in those games … The game was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., but it was moved up to a 1 p.m. start time due to the threat of inclement weather.
