IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Penn State baseball team (12-19) dropped its series opener to the Iowa Hawkeyes (20-13) 4-2 on Friday evening. Justin Williams led Penn State with three hits and Gavin Homer reached three times in the loss.
How it Happened
Gavin Homer opened the game by working a leadoff walk, reaching safely for the 21st consecutive game. Matt Wood drove in Homer with a single and gave Penn State and starter Bailey Dees an early 1-0 lead.
Iowa took its first lead of the game with back-to-back solo homers with one out in the bottom of the first and held a 2-1 lead after one full inning.
With one out in the bottom of the second, the Hawkeyes worked a walk and followed with a double to put runners on the second and third for Iowa. A single scored both runners and gave the Hawkeyes a 4-1 lead through two innings.
Bailey Dees settled in after allowing runs in the first two innings. Dees went three scoreless innings in the ensuing third, fourth and fifth innings. Dees finished his outing with five innings pitched, allowing four runs in the start.
In the top of the fifth, Homer singled with one out and stole second to put a runner in scoring position for the Nittany Lions. The next two Nittany Lions were retired and ended the threat.
One inning later, Justin Williams and Johnny Piacentino singled to open the inning. Josh Spiegel laced a single up the middle to score Williams and cut the deficit to 4-2. A double play erased Spiegel but moved Piacentino to third. A Cole Bartels walk put runners on first and third. A groundout ended the frame as the Nittany Lions trailed by two.
Hutch Gagnon and Logan Evans kept the Nittany Lions within striking distance. The two Nittany Lions bullpen arms worked scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Williams laced a leadoff single in the top of the eighth, his third hit of the game, to put the Nittany Lions in the driver's seat as they attempted to tie the game. The Nittany Lions were retired in order following Williams single.
In the top of the ninth, the first two Nittany Lions were retired. Homer reached for the third time in the game with a hit by pitch. The tying run came to the plate for Penn State but a strikeout ended the game.
Up Next
Penn State will play a doubleheader tomorrow to conclude its series against Iowa.