Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Penn State
Hoosiers Stymied By Penn State in Opening Round
5/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 21, 2008
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Indiana baseball team was bested in its first Big Ten Tournament game in five years, as Penn State took a 6-1 decision over the Hoosiers in the opening round of the postseason. IU will now take on Ohio State in the double elimination tourney, with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EDT tomorrow.
Mike Wanamaker was outstanding for the Nittany Lions, scattering seven hits and walking two in a complete-game victory. The second team All-Big Ten selection struck out four in improving to 6-5 on the year. Penn State will now take on Purdue and Illinois will face Michigan in the winner's bracket.
The game started off as a tremendous pitcher's duel between Wanamaker and IU's Eric Arnett. But the Nittany Lions got the first run across in the fourth, as Brian Ernst drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a strike three wild pitch. Arnett got ahead of Rick Marlin 1-2, but Marlin grounded a ball past a diving David Trager at third and into left field to make it 1-0.
In the fifth, Penn State got to Arnett with nine hitter Lou Picconi starting things with a single. Wes Borden followed with an infield single and then Landon Nakata sacrificed the runners over. The Hoosiers elected to intentionally walk Joe Blackburn, and Rob Yodice made them pay with a two-run single to right. Ernst followed with an RBI fielder's choice and Cory Wine singled in another run to make it 6-1 in favor of PSU.
The Hoosiers rallied in the top of the sixth. Trager was hit by a pitch to start things and Tyler Cox followed with a single through the left side. Andrew Means then delivered a run for the Hoosiers with a single to center and the Hoosiers had nobody out and two runners on. Chris Hervey then moved the runners over for Josh Phegley, but the first team All-Big Ten selection fouled out down right-field line. Jerrud Sabourin then came up and drilled a ball the other way, but it was snared by Borden at third to end the inning.
With the Hoosiers down 5-1, PSU tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth. After Picconi grounded out, Borden reached on an error and then moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. That proved costly, as Nakata delivered a single through the left side to make it 6-1.
The Hoosiers and Buckeyes will do battle in the first game tomorrow at Ray Fisher Stadium. The winner will take on one of the losers from the Penn State/Purdue and Illinois/Michigan games tomorrow. Live audio and GameTracker will be available through IUHoosiers.com.
