EAST LANSING, Mich. – Junior Kyle Virbitsky turned a career-best start in Penn State's 11-0 win over Purdue Saturday morning. Virbitsky went 8.1 innings, scattering five hits and striking out six in his outing. Virbitsky did not allow a run in his start.
The Nittany Lions and Boilermakers will play a single game tomorrow to wrap up the weekend pod series for Penn State.
How it Happened
After a scoreless top of the first, Virbitsky surrendered a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame. The runner advanced to second on a wild pitch and later advanced to third on a groundout. Virbitsky stranded the runner at third to keep the game tied at 0-0.
Penn State scored the first run of the game in the top of the second as Parker Hendershot singled to score Curtis Robison and give Virbitsky a 1-0 lead.
Virbitsky retired the next six hitters he faced and kept the Nittany Lions ahead 1-0 heading into the fourth.
Justin Williams and Matt Wood opened the fourth with back-to-back singles. Josh Spiegel doubled down the left field line to score both Williams and Wood and push the lead to 3-0.
Virbitsky got the first batter of the fourth with a strikeout. An error and a single put two runners on with one out. A fielder's choice erased one runner and put runners on the corners with two outs. A flyout to left ended the inning as Virbitsky kept his shutout intact.
The Nittany Lion starter continued to put up zeros as the game headed into the seventh.
Penn State scored three in the seventh, capped by a two-out, two run single by Wood extended the lead to 6-0.
In the top of the eighth, the Nittany Lions added another on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Jay Harry.
With one out in the ninth, Wood connected for a long home run to center to make it 8-0 Penn State.
A triple by Kyle Hannon and a single by Hendershot made in 9-0 Nittany Lions. Kris Kremer put a stamp on the win with a deep home run to left field gave the Nittany Lions an 11-0 lead.
Virbitsky went back out to the mound in the ninth as he looked to finish his shutout. He retired the first batter of the inning before a single ended Virbitsky's outing. Steven Miller shut the door with two strikeouts to wrap up the 11-0 win.
Virbitsky picked up his first win of the season on Saturday. His career-best outing followed a previous career-long 7.1 IP in his last start against Rutgers on April 4.
Up Next
Penn State will complete its first pod weekend tomorrow against Purdue.