BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Penn State came up just short in a Big Ten baseball doubleheader at Indiana, as the Hoosiers took the first game, 5-3, and the second, 3-2, Saturday at Bart Kaufman Field.
"I thought we pitched unbelievable for 27 innings this weekend," said Penn State head coach Rob Cooper. "In that first game for [Eric] Mock, it was just one bad pitch really.
"We just need to find a way to score more runs. We struck out way too much today, which has been a problem of ours. It's just frustrating that with how hard our guys are playing, you want them to get rewarded for that."
Penn State fell to 16-11 on the season and 1-7 in Big Ten play. Six of Penn State's seven conference losses have been by two runs or less, with half of those one-run losses. Indiana improved to 19-12 on the year and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
Game 1
Indiana broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 5-3 win.
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) went six innings for Penn State, striking out eight and allowing three runs on a home run, as well as six hits and two walks total. RHP Kyle Virbitsky (1-3) (Media, Pa.) took over in the seventh and breezed through the inning, but gave up four straight hits, including three doubles in the eighth. Third baseman Cole Barr and designated hitter Scotty Bradley both tallied RBI-doubles to drive in the winning runs.
Indiana struck first in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run home run from first baseman Matt Lloyd.
Penn State rallied in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. Right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) led the inning off with a bunt-single and advanced to second on the play on a wild throw by the catcher, and third baseman Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) promptly drove him home with a single up the middle for Penn State's first run of the game. Shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) followed with a single to left, and he and Williams both advanced into scoring position on a balk. Then after a strikeout, center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) drove Williams home on an infield single to third and Hughes scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.)
However, Indiana's bullpen allowed just one hit over the final three innings, with Lloyd (3) coming in for the ninth for the save, walking one and striking out one, and the Hoosiers' eighth-inning runs were the difference.
Game 2
Penn State limited the Hoosiers to four hits, but LHP Andrew Saalfrank (3-1) paced Indiana on the mound, striking out 13 over seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits and two walks, and a three-run fifth for Indiana proved to be decisive.
The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead as center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) tripled with one out in the first inning and scored on a passed ball during the next at-bat. Left fielder Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) then launched a solo home run in the third for a 2-0 Penn State lead.
RHP Bailey Dees (Charlotte, N.C.) held Indiana hitless through 3.2 innings before running into a jam and loading the bases in the frame with the hit and two walks. However, he battled back for a big strikeout in a full count to end the inning.
Indiana was able to take the lead in the fifth inning. After retiring the first batter, Dees allowed a hit and walk and was replaced by RHP Conor Larkin (2-1) (Royersford, Pa.) Center fielder Matt Gorski followed with an RBI-double up the middle and first baseman Matt Lloyd followed with a two-RBI single put the Hoosiers in front, 3-2.
Penn State threatened in the top of the seventh inning after catcher Jacob Padilla (Wylie, Texas) doubled to left center to lead the inning off. He advanced to third on a ground out, but Saalfrank battled back with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
The Nittany Lions threatened again in the ninth with second baseman Kris Kremer (Hershey, Pa.) reaching on an error and advancing to second on a passed ball, but Lloyd (4) battled back for his second save of the day.
Up Next
Penn State next opens a six-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against Youngstown State.
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: Former Indiana head men's basketball coach Bob Knight was in attendance for the first game, marking his first public appearances at Indiana University since 2000 … Kris Kremer has reached base in his last 15 games … Jordan Bowersox has a hit in his last eight games … Gavin Homer now leads Penn State with fur home runs … With 10 strikeouts in the second game, Penn State has struck out nine or more batters in 21 out of 27 games this season.