UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a back-and-forth start, St. Bonaventure took command late for an 18-6 victory over Penn State baseball Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Penn State (15-9) rallied from an early 4-0 deficit with a five-run second, but St. Bonaventure (6-13) retook the lead quickly and pulled away over the remaining innings. Second baseman Kevin Higgins paced the Bonnies going 5-for-6 with a double, six RBIs and three runs scored. Additionally, first baseman Brandon Henshaw went 4-for-4 with a walk, triple and six runs scored and third baseman Jeff Palczewski also tallied four hits and a triple, as the Bonnies totaled 21 for the night.
All nine members of Penn State's lineup tallied a hit, led by first baseman Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.) and catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) with two each.
RHP Murphy O'Brien (2-1) earned the win in relief for St. Bonaventure, limiting Penn State to just an unearned run on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
The Bonnies started the game strong by taking a 4-0 lead early in the first inning. Designated hitter Matthew Williams opened the scoring off by grounding out to third base to drive a run home from third. Higgins followed with a two-RBI single, and shortstop Branden Myers singled to center to drive in the fourth run of the frame.
The Nittany Lions roared back in the second inning to take the lead, 5-4. Hendershot opened the inning with a single, and after a pop-up to center, the Nittany Lions rattled off five-straight hits. Hendershot scored from first on a Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) single and an error in the outfield to start the comeback. Right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) singled to advance Williams to third, and Williams then scored on a Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) single to cut the deficit in half.
A pair of doubles then gave Penn State the lead. In his first collegiate start, shortstop Isaiah Payton (Newark, Del.) doubled for his first career hit to allow Hippenhammer to make it home. Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) then doubled for the eighth time this season, with a deep shot to the left center gap that bounced over the outfield wall for a ground-rule double, that scored the go-ahead runs.
The lead was short-lived though as St. Bonaventure scored a pair of runs in the third on RBI-singles by Higgins and Myers to move ahead, 6-5. A sloppy fourth with three two-out errors then gave the Bonnies three runs to pull ahead in the game by four again, 9-5.
Penn State started to claw back in the sixth, as Hendershot singled with two outs in the fifth, moved into scoring position on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Sloniger. However, the Bonnies added a run in the sixth, four more in the seventh and four more in the ninth inning.
Hendershot led the Nittany Lions by going 2-4 along with two runs. Penn State also saw seven different pitchers take the diamond for the team. Every Nittany Lion earned a hit in the game.
Penn State returns to action Friday night at Indiana to open a three-game weekend series with the Hoosiers. First pitch is set for 6:05 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.
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NOTES: Kris Kremer extended his on base streak to 13 games … Jordan Bowersox extended his hitting streak to five games … Gavin Homer now has a team-best nine doubles on the season … The loss snapped Penn State's 11 game winning streak against St. Bonaventure.
