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Nittany Lions Edged by Maryland in Saturday Slugfest

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the first time in 672 days, the Penn State baseball team played a home game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against Maryland in the series opener on Saturday.

The Terrapins used an offensive outburst in the final two innings to edge the Nittany Lions 19-10 in the first game of the series.

How it Happened

  • The Terrapins got out of the gate quickly, scoring four runs in the opening frame against starter Bailey Dees.
  • Maryland added two more in the top of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead over the Nittany Lions.
  • Penn State refused to go quietly and got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Wood worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a balk. Johnny Piacentino singled to score Wood and moved up to second on an error by the left fielder.
  • A one-out walk by Josh Spiegel brought Jay Harry to the plate with two on and one out. Harry laced a double to right and scored Piacentino and Spiegel. Harry later scored on a two-out RBI single by Cole Bartels to cut the deficit to 6-4.
  • Maryland responded with a three-run top of the fifth to push the score to 9-4.
  • The Nittany Lions scored one in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 9-5.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, Wood led off with a single and Piacentino doubled off the right centerfield wall to put runners on second and third with no outs.
  • Wood scored on a wild pitch and Piacentino advanced to third. Tayven Kelley drove in Piacentino to make the score 9-7.
  • Back-to-back singles by Harry and Spiegel brought third baseman Justin Williams to the dish. Williams laced a 107-mph line drive double off the wall in left center to score Spiegel. Harry was cut down trying to score from first to tie the game at nine.
  • Williams advanced to third on a balk and Bartels singled up the middle to tie the game at 9-9 headed into the eighth.
  • Maryland's offense scored five runs in both the top of the eighth to retake a 14-9 lead.
  • Penn State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and scored on a Harry walk to force in a run.
  • This brought the tying run to the plate but a groundout ended the Penn State threat.
  • Five runs by Maryland in the top of the ninth put the game out of reach as the Terrapins won game one of the series 19-10.

Stats

Wood – 3-4, 2 R
Piacentino – 3-5, 2 R, RBI
Williams – 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Harry – 2-4, 3 RBI, 2B
Bartels – 2-5, 2 RBI