UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) became the fifth pitcher in Penn State history to surpass 100 strikeouts in a season, but it was not enough as Arizona defeated the Nittany Lions, 11-2, in non-conference baseball action Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Biasi (3-6) struck out four in five innings of work for Penn State (22-25) to raise his season total to 102, which ranks as the fifth-highest single-season total. He allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in what may have been the draft-eligible prospect's final collegiate game.
Biasi dueled with Arizona (27-24) LHP Randy Labaut (7-3), who struck out a career-high nine in 6.1 innings of work, holding the Nittany Lions to one run on four hits and five walks. The Wildcats also turned three inning-ending double plays.
Senior center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) paced the Nittany Lion offense with his second consecutive three-hit game, also doubling and scoring in the eighth inning.
The first four Arizona runs were all scored with two outs. A two-out error by Biasi in the second inning allowed the first two runs to score. In the fourth, designated hitter Dayton Dooney led the frame off with a double and then scored on a two-out double by right fielder Blake Paugh. In the fifth, third baseman Nick Quintana hit a two-out solo home run to left field.
Paugh tallied three RBIs, driving in one of Arizona's second inning runs and then driving in another on a suicide squeeze as part of a two-run sixth inning. Dooney drove in three runs on a three-run homer in the eighth inning and finished the night 3-for-4.
Penn State threatened in the seventh inning with one out, as catcher Jacob Padilla (Wylie, Texas) singled, designated hitter Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Calif.) doubled, and pinch-hitter Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) and left fielder Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) both walked to drive in the Lions' first run. However, Arizona went to the bullpen and RHP Vince Vannelle induced an inning-ending double play on his first pitch.
Penn State will conclude its season with two more games against Arizona at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The series continues Friday at 6:30 p.m. with Penn State's annual Vs. Cancer game and concludes Saturday (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.
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NOTES: 75 percent of Shea Sbratni's hits this season have gone for extra bases (5 doubles, 3 home runs, 4 singles) … Biasi concluded his 2019 season with a 2.55 ERA in 74 innings pitched.
