For the second consecutive week, the midweek baseball game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park produced more than 20 runs between the two teams.

But this time, Penn State ended up on the less favorable side.

The Nittany Lions (12-19, 5-5 Big Ten) dropped a 16-8 decision to Mount St. Mary's last night in a long, sloppy contest, similar to last week's 14-8 win against Temple. Though Penn State equaled its season-high with 16 hits -- a Mar. 16 game with Oral Roberts it also lost -- it stranded twelve runners on base and was unable to claw its way back from an early deficit.

The Mountaineers (17-15, 6-2 Northeast Conference) also had 16 hits, but six walks, five wild pitches and three hit batsmen helped them double Penn State's tally.

"[Mount St. Mary's] had long innings hitting, and basically it didn't let us get into a real groove," senior infielder Matt Cavagnaro said.
"We had a lot of baserunners, but we just didn't hit on all cylinders."

The Lions turned to freshman Kayle Sickler to make the start from the mound, making his first collegiate appearance.

A weekend series at Michigan State pushed back one day left much of the pitching staff gassed, forcing head coach Robbie Wine's hand.

Sickler gave up six runs in just two innings of work, digging Penn State into an early hole.

Though Penn State came back last week against Temple, Wine insists that a young team can't be counted on to make up runs.

"You get down 10-3 in the third inning, it's a tough road," Wine said. "We had a couple of chances to get back in the game and we didn't come through. ... It's hard to come back like that time-after-time."

Still, there are multiple positives going into another Big Ten series. Some youngsters have found their way into Wine's favor, and Cavagnaro and catcher Joe Blackburn continue to smash the ball, producing the first four-hit games -- along with Mountaineers catcher Stephan Fay -- in the new stadium.

But it doesn't take the sting out of a loss.