Penn State Baseball Drops Two of Three Games in Weekend Series
The Penn State baseball team (3-6) took to Asheboro, North Carolina to take on Hofstra in a weekend series. The team dropped its first two games against the Pride, but rallied to take the series’ final game.
The first game of the double header on Saturday produced little offense early on from both sides, with neither team able to score a run until Kenny Jackson of Hofstra blasted a two run homer in the top of the fourth. Penn State had its opportunities, with runners in scoring position in both the fourth and the fifth, but was unable to capitalize and ended both innings without any runs scored.
Jackson hit another two run shot in the sixth inning, giving Hofstra a 4-0 lead. Penn State was only able to muster up two hits in the final three innings, ending any real chance of a comeback. Hofstra Shortstop Dalton Rouleau sent catcher James DeNomme in to score with an RBI in the ninth to make it 5-0, which would be the final score. This was the first game this season where the Nittany Lions were shutout.
Junior RHP T.J. Jann got the start in game two, but got into a hole early. Hofstra jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Penn State got one back in the bottom half of the frame, as Steve Snyder drove in Zach Ell on a sacrifice fly, making the score 3-1.
A Penn State error and a home run by Hofstra’s John Taurinsky made the score 5-1 in the eighth inning, and despite Colin Keefe driving in one run in the ninth inning, the Nittany Lions were unable to mount a comeback, falling 5-2 in game two. Jann allowed six hits, and struck out five Pride batters.
Game three seemingly featured a different Penn State team, as the Nittany Lion bats came alive. Snyder and Taylor Skerpon led the way in the batter’s box, as both went 4-for-5 on the day. Penn State got an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, when Greg Guers drove in James Coates and Taylor Skerpon drove in James White.
The bottom of the fourth inning was where the floodgates really opened up, as Penn State scored five runs and the Nittany Lions batted around the lineup. Hofstra scored two runs in the sixth, making it 7-3. Penn State answered in the bottom of the inning as Steve Snyder scored on a wild pitch. Hofstra emptied the bullpen essentially, as the Pride went through eight pitchers throughout the course of the game. Penn State broke its five game losing streak with a 10-4 victory.
The Nittany Lions will travel to California this weekend for a three game series against Saint Mary’s.
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