UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Parker Hendershot (Barton, N.Y.) delivered a walk-off win for Penn State to complete Friday night's suspended game, 5-4, in 11 innings, but Rutgers spoiled an Eric Mock gem in the day's second game, defeating the Nittany Lions, 5-1, to complete a Big Ten baseball doubleheader Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Game 1
Penn State rallied from a three-run deficit after the top of the seventh inning to tie the game in the eighth inning and force extra innings. Hendershot was ultimately the hero, hitting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th.
Third baseman Justin Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) and second baseman Kris Kremer (Hershey, Pa.) paced the Nittany Lions with three-hit games, while Williams added three runs scored and a triple.
Penn State's three pitchers did not yield a walk – a feat not accomplished since April 28, 2018 against Northwestern. RHP Conor Larkin (Royersford, Pa.) pitched six innings of relief, striking out seven and allowing two unearned runs on his own error on just three hits with no walks. RHP Mason Mellott (6-3) kept Rutgers scoreless over the final three innings, striking out three and allowing just two hits. Both starting pitchers – LHP Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) for Penn State and RHP Harry Rutkowski for Rutgers - were unable to continue Saturday.
The series opener began Friday night, but was suspended after two innings due to thunderstorms and resumed just before noon Saturday.
On Friday, Penn State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Williams tripled with two outs and then scored on an error, however Rutgers went ahead in the second after third baseman Carmen Sclafani hit a two-run home run.
The Nittany Lions left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, and with storms approaching, the game was halted at 7:11 p.m.
The first four innings were scoreless Saturday, and then Rutgers extended its lead to 4-1 with two runs scoring on a two-out throwing error in the top of the seventh inning.
Penn State got both runs back in the bottom half, leading the inning off with three-straight base hits. Designated hitter Ryan Ford (Freehold, N.J.) scored the first run with one out on a passed ball, and after Hendershot drew a four-pitch walk, catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Williams.
Penn State then tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning on a wild pitch. Shea Sbranti (Oakley, Pa.) hit a pinch-hit double to lead the frame off, and Austin Riggins (Greer, S.C.) pinch-ran for him and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and then home on a wild pitch.
Mellott came on in the ninth and kept Rutgers scoreless, setting the stage for the bottom of the 11th. Williams and Kremer both hit one-out singles and right fielder Mac Hippenhammer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) drew a walk to load the bases. Hendershot followed with a fly to right field to drive home Williams for the game-winning run.
RHP Serafino Brito (3-5) was charged with the loss for Rutgers, allowing the game-winning run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 2.2 innings.
Game 2
RHP Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) kept Rutgers scoreless for seven innings, tying his career high with nine strikeouts and yielding just four hits and a walk, but Rutgers was able to rally against the bullpen.
Penn State was first on the board in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly by Hendershot driving in an unearned run.
After Mock left, Rutgers took the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by shortstop Tim Welsh. The Knights padded their lead with two more runs in the eighth, as center fielder Victor Valderrama drove in one on a base hit and later scored on a squeeze bunt by right fielder Kevin Blum. Left fielder Luke Bowerbank added an RBI in the ninth for the final margin.
LHP Tevin Murray (4-3) went eight innings for the Scarlet Knights, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and three walks with nine strikeouts. RHP Kyle Virbitsky (2-7) was tagged with the loss in relief.
Up Next
The scheduled first-pitch time for Penn State baseball's Sunday game against Rutgers at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park has been moved two hours earlier to 11 a.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.
With Commencement ceremonies and student move out, Penn State baseball fans are advised to be prepared for heavier traffic.
Fans should refer to the updated timeline of baseball and softball games and graduation ceremonies scheduled in adjacent facilities (below
General fan parking for baseball is in the Porter North parking lot. Fans are advised to approach this lot from the north from Park Avenue or Fox Hollow Road and to be prepared for heavy traffic before and after the commencement ceremonies occurring in the Bryce Jordan Center and Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State Commencement Weekend/Athletic Schedule, Sunday
9:00 a.m. Smeal College of Business, Bryce Jordan Center
11:00 a.m. Baseball vs. Rutgers, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
12:30 p.m. College of Education, Bryce Jordan Center
1:00 p.m. Softball vs. Indiana, Nittany Lion Softball Park, Beard Field
3:30 p.m. College of Agricultural Sciences, Bryce Jordan Center
6:30 p.m. The Graduate School, Bryce Jordan Center
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 seven out of 10 starts this season … Mock has struck out five or more batters in all nine starts this season … Penn State has struck out nine or more batters in 33 out of 41 games this season … Mellott has factored in on 11 of Penn State's 20 wins this season, winning six and saving five.
