Penn State hardballers take two of three from Niagra

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State men’s baseball team hosted the Niagara Purple Eagles during its home season-opening series March 18 and 19 at Medlar Field.

The Nittany Lions lost the first game of the three-game series, 4-3.

Infielder Willie Burger had three RBIs in the game, as he hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning to give Penn State a 3-0 lead, plating first baseman Tyler Kendall and Conlin Hughes. Burger also connected on a fielder’s choice groundout in the bottom of the second inning that scored outfielder Greg Guers.

However, Niagara put up a four spot in the top of the sixth inning, as Purple Eagle infielder Greg Cullen connected on a run-scoring double that scored Geoff Seto, cutting the Nittany Lion lead to 3-2.

That was also compounded by the two wild pitches in the inning. Julian Gallup scored on a wild pitch that put Niagara on the board, 3-1. Greg Cullen also scored on a wild pitch, making it to the plate for the second time in the inning and tying the game at 3-3.

Outfielder Taylor Hackett hit the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to give Niagara a 4-3 lead it would never relinquish.

Penn State head coach Rob Cooper acknowledged some positives in the game, notably the nearly six-inning performance by starter Taylor Lehman.

“Taylor Lehman had an unbelievable start, five-inning start, and some young guys like Willie Burger and Conlin Hughes played really, really well. Jim Haley made an unbelievable play at third base,” Cooper said.

On doing better in games two and three, Cooper said, “We have to try to win more pitches than they do.”

Reliever Dakota Forsyth came into the game with two outs in the sixth in relief of Lehman, and pitched a brilliant 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and allowing no runs or hits.

Jack Anderson also pitched well, throwing 1 2/3 solid innings, in relief of Forsyth, as Anderson had three strikeouts and allowed no runs.

Penn State had 12 hits in the game, while Niagara had 10. Penn State didn’t commit an error in the game, but dropped to 5-10 overall for the season.

In the second game of the three-game set, Penn State evened the series and defeated Niagara 4-1.

Sai Biasi was the winning pitcher, leveling his season record to 2-2 on the season.

In the fifth inning, Haley hit an RBI single that scored James Coates, to give Penn State a 2-1 lead.

Burger provided an insurance run for Penn State, hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the Nittany Lions’ lead to 4-1. Kendall had a sacrifice fly in the seventh as well, giving Penn State a 3-1 lead at the time.

With the win, Penn State improved to 6-10 overall on the regular season, and evened their home record to a .500, 1-1 record.

In the third game of the series, the Niagara pitching staff allowed four bases-loaded walks in the first inning alone.

Penn State scored six unearned runs in the first inning to take an early and commanding 6-0 lead. The first inning opened the floodgates for Penn State in what was a lopsided affair, and it crushed Niagara 16-4 in Game 3 of the series and Game 2 of the doubleheader.

The Nittany Lions banged out 14 hits in Game 3 of the doubleheader, while Niagara had eight hits.

Justin Hagenman notched his third win of the season (3-1), tossing six strong innings and striking out five. Hagenman allowed four runs on seven hits.

In the bottom of the second inning, Jordan Bowersox hit an RBI single to plate Burger, to give Penn State a 7-0 lead.

First baseman Tyler Kendall hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to score Haley, which gave Penn State an 8-0 lead. Burger hit an RBI single in the third to give Penn State a 9-0 lead. Christian Helsel followed that up with an RBI single that scored Burger. Nick Graham added an RBI double to cap the four-run third inning for Penn State.

Burger had seven RBIs in the series.

Commenting on Burger’s performance, coach Cooper praised his willingness to compete and genuine nature.

“He’s a true freshman, loves to compete and makes it personal,” Cooper said.

Burger said, “Anyone of us instills trust, we have a good approach and position, and I got on with the bases loaded about three of four times.”

Burger referred to his personal performance in this weekend’s home-opening series, and how it translated to the overall success of the team.

Cooper was ecstatic after Penn State scored six unearned runs in the first inning, as Niagara starter Daniel Procopio departed after only 2/3 innings pitched.

“As long as runs are for good guys I am really happy and pumped,” Cooper said, “and I don’t care how they come, as long as they’re for us.”