ANNAPOLIS, Md. – RHP Bailey Dees (Charlotte, N.C.), LHP Tyler Shingledecker (Huntersville, N.C.) and RHP Mason Mellott (State College, Pa.) held Navy hitless, but the Midshipmen made the most of their base runners and managed to defeat Penn State, 2-1, in the bottom of the 11th inning Friday in non-conference baseball action at Max Bishop Stadium.
The no-hitter was the 10th in Penn State (9-3) history and first since Steven Hill no-hit Iowa in 2012. It was also the first combined no-hitter in program history and the first to go beyond nine innings. However, Navy (10-1) drew five walks, moved base runners and took advantage of late errors to scratch across two runs while scattering Penn State's eight hits.
Dees held Navy without a hit through six innings and allowed one run on four walks. He yielded walks in the first, second and fifth innings, but benefitted from double plays in the second and fifth. However, Navy scored its first run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Midshipmen took advantage of a hit batsman, walk and sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position, and then shortstop Michael Coritz hit a sacrifice fly to center to score right fielder Matt Wolff from third.
Penn State tied the game in the top of the seventh inning on a triple by second baseman Gavin Homer (Battle Creek, Mich.) Robison singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout to bring up Homer with two outs. Homer then battled back from an 0-2 count to rope a triple to center field on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.
Rains then came and delayed the game for 35 minutes, chasing both Dees and Navy RHP Charlie Connolly. Connolly allowed a single each inning through the first five innings and worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning before getting touched for two hits and the tying run in the seventh.
Penn State's dominance on the mound continued as Shingledecker struck out five over 2.2 innings with just one walk allowed. Mellott came on for the final out of the ninth with a runner on second, and got out of the frame with the help of a diving grab by center fielder Johnny Piacentino (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
However, Navy pitched well out of the bullpen too, as RHP Trey Brathwaite allowed just a hit and a walk and RHP Dalton Baker (2-0) allowed just two walks.
Separate infield throwing errors allowed Navy's baserunners in the 11th. The lead-off batter reached on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on another throwing error.
Next Up
Penn State continues its stay in the area Saturday at UMBC at 3 p.m. and then returns to Navy Sunday at noon to face Fairleigh Dickinson.
The 2020 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: Penn State played its third extra-inning game of the year…Cole Bartels has a hit in all five games he has appeared as a position player.
