CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Penn State rallied back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, but Illinois scored a run each in the bottom of the fifth and sixth for a 7-6 win over the Nittany Lions in Big Ten baseball action Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field.
It was another heartbreakingly close Big Ten loss for Penn State (17-17, 1-12 Big Ten), which has seen half of its conference losses decided by just one run and its last 11 decided by two runs or less.
Penn State's rally was highlighted by a three-run home run by freshman designated hitter Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.), which was the first of his career, and he drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning for his career-high fourth RBI of the day. Classmate Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) also factored in heavily, going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Illinois was led by its bullpen down the stretch, as five different pitchers combined to hold the Nittany Lions hitless over the last 4.2 innings.
After Penn State went ahead, 6-5, in the top of the fifth inning. Illinois tied the game back up in the bottom half though on an RBI-single by catcher Jeff Korte, and then went ahead on an RBI-single by first baseman Kellen Sarver in the sixth. Sarver drove in center fielder Zac Taylor, who doubled with one out before Sarver's at-bat.
Korte paced the Illini at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, finishing a home run shy of the cycle.
Illinois jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. The Illini tallied three-straight base hits to start the game, with Taylor's single to right driving in the first run of the game. Following a sacrifice bunt, left fielder Cam McDonald tripled to drive in two and Korte later doubled to drive in two more.
Penn State responded in the third inning on a three-run home run by Ford to pull within two runs. Williams started the inning off with a wind-aided double, as strong winds blew a pop fly to center all the way over to right field, where it fell. Catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) then walked with one out and Ford delivered his first career homer, hitting the scoreboard in right field.
The third inning was scoreless and then Penn State tied the game at 5-5 in the fourth inning with two runs. Williams, left fielder Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) and right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) loaded the bases with base hits, and then Ford drew a walk to bring in Williams and shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Homer for the game-tying run.
Penn State went ahead in the top of the fifth inning, 6-5, after center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) led the inning off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Williams.
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) settled in after his rough first inning on the mound for Penn State, allowing only one more run and just three more hits as he worked through the fifth inning. For the game, he also struck out five and walked five. RHP Conor Larkin (Royersford, Pa.) (2-2) struck out four in 2.2 innings of relief, but allowed the go-ahead run in the sixth and was tagged with the loss.
LHP Josh Harris (3-2) earned the win with a perfect sixth inning, facing just three batters and retiring two with strikeouts, while RHP Garrett Acton (12) earned his 12th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
The series concludes Sunday starting at 1 p.m. ET.
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.
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NOTES: Jordan Bowersox extended his hitting streak to 15 games, which is the longest streak by a Nittany Lion since Greg Guers had a 16-game hitting streak in 2015 and tied for the 16th-longest streak in school history … With 10 strikeouts Penn State has now struck out nine or more batters in 28 out of 34 games this season.
