Baseball
Roadrunners' three-run fourth inning too much for Lions
Penn State got back on the winning track on Friday but could not keep the ball rolling Saturday in a close game with Texas San-Antonio.
The contest, played in San Antonio as part of the UTSA Collegiate Baseball Classic, gave the Nittany Lions (2-6) an opportunity to string together their first pair of wins this season. But after jumping out to a small lead in the third inning, they could not recover from a three-run fourth inning by the Roadrunners (8-3) and eventually lost, 3-2.
The Roadrunners' game-winning inning was nearly avoided.
Leading 1-0, starting pitcher Steven Hill (0-3) struck out the Roadrunners' first two batters of the inning. But the next batter, third baseman Horacio Correa III, reached base on a throwing error to keep the inning alive. Right fielder John Welborn and left fielder Riley Good hit consecutive RBI triples, and center fielder Daniel Rockett completed the frame's scoring with an RBI single before the Lions could stop the bleeding.
The Lions came close to taking the lead back in the eighth inning.
After center fielder Steve Snyder drove home second baseman Luis Montesinos on a single with one out, consecutive walks loaded the bases for the Lions. However, catcher J.C. Coban and third baseman Ryky Smith left all three men stranded after they both struck out swinging to retire the side.
Earlier in the game, Montesinos also put the first run of the game on the board. He got on base with a single, moved to third base in the next two at-bats and then crossed home plate when shortstop Taylor Skerpon reached base with two outs on a fielder's choice. Montesinos finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
The Lions finish their slate of games at the UTSA Collegiate Baseball Classic tomorrow when they take on Nebraska-Omaha at 1 p.m.