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Andy Mead

Late-Inning Rally Lifts Purdue Past Nittany Lions

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State baseball team (8-13, 8-13) fell in the pod weekend series finale to Purdue 8-5 on Sunday afternoon. Junior Parker Hendershot launched two home runs, his second and third of the season, in the loss.

The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park after the last two weekends on the road and will host Nebraska in a three-game set beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

How it Happened

  • The Boilermakers got on the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
  • Penn State got one run back in the bottom of the second as Hendershot sent a blast over the left centerfield wall to make the score 2-1.
  • Purdue added to their lead in the fourth, scoring one run to push their lead to 3-1.
  • Hendershot struck again in the bottom of the fifth with another home run to left center and cut the deficit to 3-2.
  • One inning later, the Nittany Lions grabbed the lead for the first time in the game. With two outs, Matt Wood laced a triple to right center. He scored on a double by Josh Spiegel to tie the game at 3-3.
  • Spiegel moved up 90 feet after a wild pitch by the Boilermakers and looked to give Penn State the lead. Curtis Robison continued his strong weekend at the plate with an RBI double down the right field line to score Spiegel and give the Nittany Lions a 4-3 lead.
  • Purdue quickly responded by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead, 6-4.
  • The Boilermakers added two more runs in the top of the ninth to cushion the lead at 8-4.
  • Penn State would not go quietly in the bottom half of the frame. Jay Harry doubled with one out and advanced to third on a wild pitch during the next at bat. Tayven Kelley walked to put runners on the corners with one out.
  • Harry would score on a fielder's choice to make it 8-5 with two outs. Justin Williams singled to bring the tying run to the plate. A ground out ended the game and Purdue held on for the win.

Up Next

Penn State will play the Nebraska Huskers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before they head back on the road to Ohio State April 23-25.