Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Northwestern Drops Series Finale to Penn State, 6-5
4/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2010
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Northwestern was unable to overcome four errors as the Wildcats dropped their series finale to Penn State 6-5 Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field. Paul Snieder collected two hits in the contest to raise his season batting average to .390.
Northwestern (9-21, 3-3 Big Ten) jumped out in front in the second inning as it plated three runs thanks to some help from Penn State starting pitcher John Walter. Snieder started the inning with a double and scored two batters later on a basehit by Trevor Stevens. Following a walk to Alex Seyferth, Walter uncorked to wild pitches with the first scoring Stevens. A throwing error by Walter plated Seyferth from third to put NU ahead 3-0.
Michael Jahns got the start on the mound for the Wildcats and was able to blank the Nittany Lions over the first two frames, but he wasn't as fortune in the third. After retiring the first batter of the inning, he allowed six straight batters to reach on five hits and a walk as the hosts took a 4-3 lead. Joe Muraski entered in relief and prevented any further damage by sitting down the first two batters he faced.
Northwestern left the tying run stranded at third in the fourth, but plated a pair of runs with two outs in the fifth to surge back in front 5-4. Chad Noble's single deep into the hole at short scored Geoff Rowan from third to tie the game.
Walter allowed a single to Snieder and hit Chris Lashmet with to load the bases to bring his day to a close. Neal Herring relieved Walter, but issued a four-pitch walk to Stevens to plate the go-ahead run.
A leadoff error proved costly for the Wildcats in the ensuing half inning as Penn State answered right back to tie the score. Joey DeBernardis tagged from third and scored on Elliot Searer's sac fly to center.
NU's fourth miscue of the game helped lead to another run by the Nittany Lions in the seventh as the hosts took the lead. The Wildcats tried to double up Jordan Steranka at first after getting forceout at second, but the throw was errant allowing Steranka to reach second. He'd later score the go-ahead run on a single to right by Searer.
Northwestern drew a pair of free passes in the eighth off Jesse Alfrano and the Nittany Lions brought on David Lutz out of the bullpen to face Arby Fields. The freshman center fielder hit a chopper over the mound, but Rowan was called out at second on a bang-bang play for the forceout.
The Wildcats got a two-out walk by Snieder against Heath Johnson in the ninth but were unable to push across the tying run.
Muraski suffered the loss despite allowing only two runs (one earned) over 5 2/3 innings of solid relief. He scattered four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Northwestern return to action Wednesday when it takes on Northern Illinois in Rockford, Ill. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. at Road Runner Stadium.
