UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A late rally was not enough, as Penn State closed out its 2019 baseball season with a, 9-5 loss to Arizona in non-conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
RHP Quinn Flanagan (7-3) struck out eight in the first six innings for Arizona (29-24) and held Penn State (22-27) to three hits, but the Nittany Lions fought back against the bullpen with eight hits and five runs over the final three innings. For the game, Penn State ultimately outhit Arizona, 11-10.
Redshirt junior Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) drove in a pair Penn State runs with a double in the seventh inning. Senior catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) led the inning off with a single and junior Mason Nadeau (Lansdale, Pa.) also followed with a base hit, and both scored on the play.
Senior center fielder Jordan Bowersox (Winter Springs, Fla.) then led the eighth off with a base hit to start a three-run inning. Freshman third baseman Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) followed with a one-out single, and right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Nadeau hit back-to-back RBI-singles to score Bowersox and Williams. Nadeau's single forced the Wildcats to go back to the bullpen, but Klemann and senior shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and then push a run across.
Arizona was able to hold the Nittany Lions scoreless in the ninth to secure the win.
Nadeau led Penn State with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Arizona third baseman Nick Quintana powered the Wildcats with a 3-for-5 day that included a home run, four RBIS and two runs scored.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, with Quintana driving in a run on a single. Quintana then capped a five-run fourth inning with a two-run home run. Shortstop Cameron Christopher drove in two with a double earlier in the fourth.
Arizona added another run in the sixth before Penn State responded with two runs in the seventh. Penn State RHP Kyle Virbitsky threw two hitless innings in the eighth and ninth to give Penn State a chance at the plate.
The 2019 Penn State baseball season was presented by the Family Clothesline.
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NOTES: Penn State seniors Conlin Hughes, Ryan Sloniger, Jordan Bowersox, Austin Riggins, Shea Sbranti and Blake Hodgens were honored following the game … Hodgens made his first career start on the mound and tallied a strikeout … Riggins made his first start of the season and tallied his first hit of the season … Penn State's 22 wins for the year were its most since winning 28 in 2016.