April 4, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michael Glantz hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning as Penn State toppled defending Big Ten champion Michigan, 6-4, in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Glantz (Marietta, Ga.) went 2-for-5 with one RBI, and Rick Marlin (Orlando, Fla.), who also had an RBI single in the 10th, had three hits.
In extra innings, Mike Deese (Roswell, Ga.) ignited the Nittany Lions with a comeback single that barely missed reliever Matt Miller. After an intentional walk to Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Glantz registered a Texas Leaguer to right-center field to take the lead. Marlin added insurance when he found a hole in the infield.
Ryan Ignas (North Wales, Pa.) secured the victory with a crucial double play in the bottom of the ninth to leave ducks on the pond. David Lutz (West Chester, Pa.) gave up one hit and no earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
T.J. Macy (Boise, Idaho) started the game for Penn State and took his third no-decision in seven starts. Macy pitched 5 2/3 innings, fanning eight while allowing four earned runs. Six hits were scattered against the senior righthander.
Throwing 136 pitches, Chris Fetter also received a no-decision. Fetter struck out 11 in eight innings.
The Nittany Lions were aided by Steranka, who had two hits. Landon Nakata (Honolulu, Hawai'i) and Wes Borden (Charlotte, N.C.) each had RBIs. Penn State was benefited by three double plays turned - including two in the late stages.
The Wolverines wasted no time getting on board in the first inning. Kevin Cislo doubled to left to start the inning and was moved along by a bunt single by Kenny Fellows. Mike Dufek brought home the first two runs of the game when a potential double play was averted by an errant throw that scored both runners.
Michigan added another run to its total in the third inning. Cislo poked a base hit to shortstop to start the frame. Ryan LaMarre belted a double to deep left field, barely escaping Deese's reach, to supply Michigan with a three-run lead.
Penn State tied the game in the fifth with three runs. Marlin filed a liner down the third-base line that caromed off of John Lorenz's mitt for a two-bagger. Bobby Jacobs (West Chester, Pa.) saw 11 pitches to reach on a walk. Nakata went opposite field with a liner that scored the first run of the game. Following an infield base hit by
Blake Lynd (Deer Park, Texas), Borden grounded a fielder's choice to score the second. Nakata evened the game, scoring on a wild pitch by starter Chris Fetter.
The stalemate was short-lived after Michigan tallied its fourth run in the fifth. LaMarre gave Michigan a 4-3 advantage with a single to center.
The Nittany Lions quickly tied the game with a run in their next at-bat. Steranka blooped a ball into center to initiate the scoring. The freshman third baseman touched home when a grounder by Jacobs complimented a wide throw by Lorenz.
Jacobs provided the Nittany Lions with some excellent defensive play in the sixth to stave off a Wolverine threat. With one out and a runner on first, Jacobs caught Lorenz stealing by two steps. In the eighth, Nakata netted a hard liner to catch the runner at first for an inning-ending double play.
Ignas forced a game-saving groundball double play with the bases loaded the bottom of the ninth. Michigan had three recipients of bases on balls. Ignas, the third pitcher in the inning, escaped disaster when a potential wild pitch took a Penn State bounce back to catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.). Two pitches later, Mike Dudek set up a groundball double play to Nakata to take the game into extra innings.
Ignas returned to finish the game in the tenth. After letting up a lead-off walk, he punched out the next two batters. Another walk and a wild pitch yielded the tying runner at second. Anthony Toth bounced a ball over the head of Ignas but Glantz ranged out to get it behind second base
GAME NOTES: Jordan Steranka advanced his hitting streak to 10 games....The game lasted 2:58...Due to incoming weather, Sunday's start time has been moved up to 10:30 a.m.