Baseball
Penn State baseball team snaps 3-game losing streak with win at Samford
The Penn State baseball team (2-5) got back on the right track Saturday, starting their 8-game Spring Break road trip with a 7-4 victory in Birmingham, Ala. against the Samford Bulldogs (6-4).
Junior starting pitcher Cody Lewis earned his first career victory in a Penn State uniform, with third baseman Joey DeBernardis providing a big 3-run home run to give Penn State a 3-2 lead in the third inning that it wouldn’t surrender.
Lewis had a rough beginning, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in the first inning. From that point on, he was lights out, giving up no more runs. He ended up pitching 6.0 innings, giving up seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He improved to 1-2 on the season with the win.
Penn State’s offense, which was coming off a goose egg performance against UNC Greensboro last weekend, had a field day against Samford starter Kyle Putkonen. The Lions racked up 12 hits, with center fielder Steve Snyder collecting a team-leading three. DeBernardis’ home run was the ultimately the biggest difference in the win.
The three-game series with the Bulldogs continues tomorrow. The Lions will send junior John Walter (0-2, 9.00 ERA) to the bump in game two.