May 20, 2016
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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State rallied from a 4-0 deficit to claim the night cap of a Friday doubleheader and take the series finale over the University of Iowa baseball team, 5-4, in 12 innings at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
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The Hawkeyes won two of three games to win its first true road series of the season and clinch a spot in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament. Iowa is 27-25 overall and finish 12-12 in the Big Ten regular season standings.
After the Hawkeyes missed on a golden opportunity in the 12th — coming away empty despite having the bases loaded and one out — the Nittany Lions capitalized.
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Jordan Bowersox reached on an infield single against UI reliever Shane Ritter in the 12th before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a wild pitch. With five Hawkeyes in the infield, Connor Klemann roped an RBI single down the left field line to send Penn State to the walk-off victory.
Ritter (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings. He was one of seven UI pitchers to throw on the night.
Iowa stormed out of the gates, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in its first three at-bats. Junior Mason McCoy had an RBI single in the first, senior Tyler Peyton had an RBI single in the second, and the Hawkeyes scored two runs on four hits in the third. Freshman Robert Neustrom had an RBI groundout, and sophomore Austin Guzzo had an RBI single to left field in the inning.
Penn State scored its first run in the third against UI starter Nick Allgeyer, who was making his first career start. Allgeyer issued a one-out walk and consecutive two-out singles, including an RBI base knock from Greg Guers to make the score, 3-1.
Iowa maintained its three run lead until the seventh inning when Penn State capitalized on a pair of free bases. Redshirt junior Jared Mandel walked the only two hitters he faced in the inning, and Bowersox brought them home with a two-out single to make the score 4-3.
Penn State manufactured the game-tying run in the eighth. James Coates drew a leadoff walk against reliever Josh Martsching, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single from Conlin Hughes to tie the game at four.
The Hawkeyes threatened in both the 11th and 12th innings, leaving two on in the 11th and the bases loaded in the 12. Iowa stranded 13 runners in the game.
Iowa out-hit Penn State, 14-10, with Peyton (3-for-6), McCoy (3-for-6, RBI), senior Joel Booker (2-for-5), and senior Eric Schenck-Joblinske (2-for-6) accounting for 10 hits.
Nittany Lion reliever Taylor Lehman (2-9) earned the win, allowing three hits over five shutout innings. He had four strikeouts to three walks.
Iowa will return to action Wednesday, competing in the first round of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament. The opponent and time of game will be determined Saturday.
