Baseball Drops Game Two to Penn State

Saturday, April 3

Piscataway, N.J.

1:00 PM

Rutgers University

8-8, 8-8

Penn State

6-10, 6-10

Penn State

Rutgers

Photo by: Mike Lawrence

Apr 03 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Sweeney hits fifth homer of the season

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Penn State (6-10) scored three runs in the top of the first inning and Rutgers baseball (8-8) could not come back in a 5-1 loss Saturday at Bainton Field.

"Today, their pitcher was really good, probably one of the best arms we've faced all year regardless of his numbers," head coach Steve Owens said. "They got an early lead which makes you pitch even more aggressive and comfortable. We did have some chances, but not enough. The only run was from Sweeney's homer. We are struggling a bit right now at the plate. I didn't think our at bats were that good today. The bullpen did a good job to keep it close to give us a shot.

"Hopefully the guys will come back tomorrow ready to go. The focus is to play ahead and salvage a game, they all count."

Jordan Sweeney connected for his fifth of the homer of the season to account for the Scarlet Knights' scoring. Both Evan Sleight and Grant Shulman posted two hits.

On the mound, Nate McLain threw a season-high 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and only one run allowed. Parker Scott followed with 1.2 scoreless, while Tevin Murray and Ben Gorski each logged a shutout frame to keep RU within striking distance. Starter Ben Wereski took the loss with four runs allowed in three innings.

Conor Larkin pitched six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win for the Nittany Lions. The visitors collected 13 hits offensively.

Sweeney goes deep to left! His fifth homer of the year gets the Scarlet Knights on the board.

B7 | Penn State 5, Rutgers 1 pic.twitter.com/T4qDbP4kJk
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 3, 2021

SCORING

Penn State took an early lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the first.
A sacrifice fly for the Nittany Lions made it 4-0 in the third inning.
In the sixth, a one-out RBI single by PSU made it 5-0.
Sweeney puts the Scarlet Knights on the board with a solo homer to left field in the seventh.

UP NEXT

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Watch on Big Ten Network+.

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