Seven proved to be an unlucky number for the Penn State baseball team Friday afternoon in Austin, Texas, as the Nittany Lions fell to the No. 7 Longhorns, who rode their seven-run fourth inning to a 9-2 victory.
After Texas jumped out to an early 1-0 first-inning lead, the Nittany Lions answered back in the fourth when Michael Glantz doubled.
In the next at bat, freshman Jordan Steranka singled straight up the middle of the diamond and tied the game at one.
But things spun out of control for the Lions in the next half of the fourth. Second baseman Landon Nakata committed two throwing errors, Texas center fielder Connor Rowe belted a two-run homer over the left field fence and Texas left fielder Tant Sheppard cleared loaded bases with a triple.
The aftermath left Penn State down 8-1, a deficit from which they never recovered.
The Lions continue their series with the Longhorns in a doubleheader Saturday. The first game begins 1:30 p.m. EST, again in Austin.
