UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State rebounded from a 6-4 loss in Saturday's opening game against Maryland with a total team effort in the second, winning 10-7 to split a Big Ten baseball doubleheader at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
After keeping it close throughout the early game, scoring four runs on four hits, Penn State (19-20, 2-15 Big Ten) finally took a lead over Maryland (22-21, 8-6 Big Ten) with a five-run third inning during the second game. The Nittany Lions set conference season highs for hits (13) and runs (10).
Game 2
Five Nittany Lions tallied multi-hit games, led by right fielder Mac Hippenhammer's (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 3-for-5 effort that included a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) and center fielder Derek Orndorff (Mill Run, Pa.) both tallied a hit each and led the team with two RBIs each. Orndorff's hit was a double and both of second baseman Kris Kremer's (Hershey, Pa.) hits in the game went for extra bases, as he doubled home the first Penn State run and later tripled.
RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) (5-3) earned the win with 3.2 innings of relief and RHP Kyle Virbitsky (Media, Pa.) (3) picked up his third save of the season by holding Maryland scoreless over the final three innings.
The game was tied at 1-1 entering the third when Penn State went ahead, 6-1, with five runs in the bottom half. Orndorff led off the inning with a walk followed by a single from left fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.). First baseman Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.) singled to left to drive Orndorff in from second for the inning's first run. Third baseman Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) then walked to load the bases, and Sloniger hit a single through the right side to drive in two more runs. Hippenhammer and shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) each followed up with an RBI-single each.
Maryland responded in the top of the fourth by putting up three runs on just one hit and two errors, decreasing Penn State's lead to 6-4. However, in the bottom half, Bowersox led off with a single, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double play ball for a 7-4 advantage.
Both teams scored a pair of runs each in the fifth. Maryland designated hitter Michael Pinerio drove in a pair on a single up the middle in the top half to pull within one, but Orndorff hit a two-RBI double – his first hit of the season – in the bottom half for a 9-6 Lion lead.
Maryland third baseman Taylor Wright drove in a run in the top of the sixth inning to pull within two, but that was as close as the Terps would come. Hippenhammer tripled down the right line to lead-off the seventh and scored on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.)
Virbitsky struck out the side in the eighth and worked out of trouble in the ninth with help from a diving catch by Hughes. The with the bases loaded and two outs, Kremer caught a line drive to end the game behind second base.
Game 1
Maryland got on the board first in the top of the second inning, as first baseman Maxwell Costes hit a double down the left field line and later scored on an error. However, Penn State designated hitter Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) answered in the bottom of the third with a solo home run into the right field bleachers.
In away half of the fifth, Maryland regained the lead, 3-1, as Randy Bednar hit a two-run double off the top of the right field wall.
Penn State cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-groundout by right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.), but the Terrapins then extended their lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning as Justin Vought hit a two-run home run. The Nittany Lions cut down the lead to one again in the bottom half as a sacrifice fly by first baseman Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.) scored shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) and then third baseman Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) hit a solo home run. However, Maryland added a solo home run in the top of the ninth and RHP John Murphy (9) picked up his second save in as many games.
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) (2-3) went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, two of which were earned, walking two, and striking out seven.
RHP Zach Thompson (2-4) cruised through seven innings, only surrendering three hits, two earned runs, while walking one and striking out three.
Up Next
Penn State will focus on exams this week before returning to action at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Friday at 6:30 p.m. to open a three-game series against Rutgers.
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: Eric Mock has allowed two earned runs or less in six of eight starts this season … Mock has struck out five or more batters in all nine starts this season … With nine strikeouts total in the first game of the day, Penn State has struck out nine or more batters in 31 out of 39 games this season … Justin Williams had a six-game hitting streak snapped in the second game after going 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored … Hippenhammer posted his third three-hit game of the season … Penn State snapped a six-game losing streak against Maryland … Mellott has factored in on 10 of Penn State's 19 wins this season, winning five and saving five … 13 of Penn State's 15 conference losses have been by two runs or less.
