CARY, N.C. – Sophomore C.J. Pittaro scored the game-winning run on a throwing error as the Penn State baseball team earned a 4-3 win over Maine on Friday at Coleman Field. Penn State rallied from a 3-0 deficit entering the fifth inning.
With runners on first and second, a grounder by Cole Bartels was hit to the second baseman, who stepped on second and threw towards first. The throw got away, allowing Pittaro to cross the plate. Penn State is now 2-3 on the season, while Maine dropped to 0-4.
Travis Luensmann made the start on the mound, going six innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight without allowing a walk. He had three innings with multiple strikeouts.
Steven Miller entered the game in the seventh, throwing two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Tyler Shingledecker pitched the ninth, and earned the win, with a perfect inning.
Brett Erwin got the start for Maine, going six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking two. Trevor Labonte threw the final 2.2 innings, giving up an unearned run and three hits.
Matt Wood continued his hot start to the season with two hits and two RBI. Billy Gerlott was 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a run. Freshman Anthony Steele recorded three hits and scored a run, while Pittaro crossed the plate twice.
Joe Bramanti led Maine with two hits, including a two-run homer. Quinn McDaniel and Jeff Mejia each had two hits, with one of McDaniel's going for a triple.
The Blackbears got on the board in the third inning. With one out, Mejia reached on an infield single. After being sacrificed over to second, Mejia scored on a single to right by Ryan Turenne.
Maine extended its lead to 3-0 in the second inning. McDaniel led off the frame with a triple to right-center. Bramanti followed with a two-run blast to right.
Penn State answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Steele started the inning with a. single and stole second. A single to center by Gerlott put runners on second and third before a walk drawn by Pittaro loaded the bases. Three batters later, Wood drove a single to right to allow Gerlott and Pittaro to cross the plate and cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the sixth on an RBI double to right-center by Gerlott. With two outs, Steele reached on a single to center. Gerlott then lined a ball to the gap to allow Steele to come around to the plate.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pittaro drew a one-out walk. Jay Harry then singled to left-center to setup runners at first and second. That setup Bartels to hit a grounder to the second baseman, who stepped on the bag for an out, but then a wild throw to third got away and Pittaro scored to give Penn State the victory.
Penn State will take on Maine in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at noon. The weekend concludes on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against William & Mary.
Cole Bartels