Baseball: Penn State Edges Mountaineers

By Mike Montoro for WVUsports.com
February 19, 2011 06:27 PM

Harrison Musgrave

LARGO, Fla. – Penn State’s three runs in the eighth inning were all the Nittany Lions needed as they pulled out a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over West Virginia, today, in the second day of the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge at Jack Russell Stadium in front of 175 in attendance.

Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Penn State’s Ryan Clark and Blake Lynd singled to lead off the inning. Elliot Searer reached on a bunt single to the pitcher loading the bases, before Luis Montesinos’ fielder’s choice grounder to short scored Clark from third. Then Jordan Steranka grounded to first, plating Lynd from third to tie the game at 2-2. After Joey Debernardis reached on an infield single to third base, Marlo Eramo singled to center field to drive in Montesinos and take the lead.

Dave Walkling (1-0) earned the win, coming on in relief of Lion starter Steven Hill in the eighth inning, pitching the final 1.1 innings and giving up only one hit. Hill started the game and pitched 7.1 innings, only giving up two runs on five hits while striking out eight batters.

WVU relief pitcher Josh McCauley (0-1) was credited with the loss, giving up the winning run on three hits and striking out one. Harrison Musgrave started the game for the Mountaineers, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up three hits and striking out eight batters. Marcus Broadwater came on in relief of Musgrave in the seventh inning, pitching one-third of an inning and giving up two runs on two hits.

Penn State (2-0) scored three runs on eight hits, while West Virginia (1-1) scored two runs on six hits. Neither team committed an error.

Dan DiBartolomeo and Matt Frazer led the Mountaineers offensively with two hits each. Frazer had WVU’s only extra base hit, a double in the fourth inning. Grant Buckner and Justin McDavid had West Virginia’s RBIs.

Steranka and Debernardis led the Lions with two hits each. Montesinos, Steranka and Eramo had the three RBIs.

The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Brady Wilson was hit by Hill to lead off the game, moved to third on DiBartolomeo’s single to right field and scored on Buckner’s fielder’s choice ground out to shortstop.

West Virginia added its second run in the fourth inning. Buckner reached on a fielder’s choice ground out to second base, advanced to third on Frazer’s double to right field and scored on McDavid’s ground out to short.

The Mountaineers face Illinois on Sunday in the final game of the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge at 1 p.m. at Al Lang Field in Clearwater, Fla.

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