River Hawks Come Up Short, 3-1, in Pitchers' Duel at Penn State

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State scored three unanswered runs, including the go-ahead score in the seventh inning to defeat the UMass Lowell baseball team, 3-1, in the opener of the four-game series.

Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.) drove in the lone run for the River Hawks (2-14), as the visitors took the 1-0 lead with his sacrifice fly in the second. Ted Leathersich (Beverly, Mass.) led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on Oscar Marchena’s (Miami, Fla.) double.

“It was a really good baseball game between two good teams,” remarked Head Coach Ken Harring. “{Dante} Biasi was really good for them and showed why he is their ace. Not to be outdone, Connor Metelski was really good as well and gave us the opportunity to win. We are looking forward to getting back out there for two games tomorrow.”

The Nittany Lions (11-3) knotted the score on a sacrifice fly of their own in the fourth after having the first two batters reach.

Neither team could muster much offense, combining for only four base runners through the top of the seventh, before Penn State’s Ryan Sloniger broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame. Kris Kremer added an insurance run in the eighth with a single.

The pitching staffs combined for 20 strikeouts, with Biasi recording 13 of his own. Metelski struck out five in seven innings for UMass Lowell, while only allowing two hits and two walks.

The series continues with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. tomorrow. Nick Rand and Sal Fusco will take the mound for the River Hawks.

Team Statistics

PITCHING: W: Biasi (2-1); L: METELSKI, CONNOR (0-4); S: Mellott (3)

UMass Lowell

BATTING: 2B: MARCHENA, Oscar 1; RBI: CASTELLANOS, Joey 1; SF: CASTELLANOS, Joey 1
BASERUNNING:: RUNS: LEATHERSICH, TED 1; CS: CLIMO, CAM 1; PO: CLIMO, CAM 1

Penn State

BATTING:: HR: Sloniger 1; RBI: Kremer 2; Sloniger 1; SH: Bowersox 1; Hendershot 1; SF: Kremer 1
BASERUNNING:: RUNS: Homer 1; Hendershot 1; Sloniger 1; SB: Hendershot 1; CS: Homer 1; Hughes 1; HBP: Homer 1; Bowersox 1; Hughes 1; Williams 1