April 23, 2008

Penn State Rallies Late to Spoil Tucker's Gem

    University Park, Pa. -- Penn State scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings and got the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the 13th to defeat Youngstown State 5-4 on Wednesday evening.
    Two of the runs in the ninth were unearned as the Nittany Lions came from behind after the Penguins led 4-0 through seven innings.
    Penn State's rally spoiled an outstanding start for freshman Matt Tucker. In his first collegiate start, Tucker allowed one run on three hits, walked four and struck out three in his eight innings of work.
    Craig Gillet worked out of several jams to keep Penn State scoreless in the 10th through 12th innings. In the 13th, Jack Greenberg and Scott Kelley led off with singles, and the bases became loaded when Greenberg beat Gillet's throw to third on a bunt. Wes Borden then lined a sacrifice fly to right center for the game-winner.
    "We played our hearts out tonight," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "We're finding out some great things about Tucker and Gillet.
    "Tucker threw the best I've ever seen him. We know we have another solid starter with him, and Gillet gives us someone else to come in and close it out."
    Tucker allowed a one-out double in the first, but the Nittany Lions did not get another base hit until Brian Ernst led off with a bloop single to left in the seventh. Tucker responded by striking out Cory Wine and inducing Rick Marlin into an inning-ending double play.
    Penn State's only run off of Tucker came in the eighth on a sacrifice fly. Even then, they caught a break as YSU's Cory Hornyak lost track of a ball to deep centerfield that resulted in a Ben Heath triple. He scored two batters later on Landon Nakata's fly out to center.
    The Penguins had the bases loaded with nobody out in the top of the ninth, but David Lutz was able to work out of the inning unscathed. He struck out Anthony Porter for the first out, and he flipped home just ahead of Josh Page on a bang-bang play at the plate on a squeeze. Jason Reitenbach then flew out to end the inning.
    In Penn State's half, Ernst reached on an error with one out to start the rally. Wine then singled up the middle, and Marlin walked to load the bases. Kelley then singled off of Page's glove to plate two runs, and Nakata walked with the bases loaded later in the inning to tie the contest at 4-4.
    The Penguins got a run across in the first when starter Calvin Grumley hit a wild streak with two outs. After retiring the first two batters, the lefty hit Erich Diedrich and Anthony Porter and walked C.J. Morris to load the bases. Reitenbach then beat out an infield chopper to short as Diedrich cross the plate with the game's first score.
    Reitenbach brought Diedrich home again in the third on a squeeze to put the Penguins up 2-0. Diedrich led off with a single and moved to third on Morris' single to right center.
    YSU then got runs in the sixth and seventh innings to give Tucker a four-run cushion. Mike Turjanica and David Leon hit back-to-back doubles with two outs in the sixth, and Diedrich brought in Sean Lucas on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
    But Penn State freshman Mike Pierce came in and handcuff the Penguins for the final four innings, surrendering just one run and one hit to earn his first win.
    The Penguins will resume Horizon League play this weekend with a three-game series at Cleveland State. Game one of the set will be Friday at 6 p.m., and the squads will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.