The Dallas Baptist University baseball team wasted a five run eighth inning when they were defeated by the Penn State Nittany Lions on Wednesday afternoon by the score of 7-5 in day three action of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic on the campus of Fresno State University. With the loss, the Patriots fall to 9-9 on the season and the Lions improve to 3-4.
The Nittany Lions scored first, pushing one run across in the bottom of the third inning. Matt Lewis was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch by DBU pitcher Sophomore Brice Wells. Lewis scored on a RBI single by Scott Gummo, giving Penn State an early 1-0 lead.
Gummo lead off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo homerun, off of DBU reliever FreshmanTJ Drake. Freshman Jonathan Teat came in for Drake and worked out of a bases loaded jam with one out, by getting an inning ending double play to keep the Lions' lead at 2-0.
Penn State added another two more runs in the seventh inning, after Mike Milliron walked to lead off the inning and later scored on a RBI single by Joe Blackburn. Blackburn stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a balk by Teat, leaving the score 4-0.
DBU responded in the top of the eighth on a leadoff double by Junior Cody Montgomery. Montgomery scored on a RBI single by Junior TJ Drotleff. Junior Drew Holder added a double setting up Junior Sean Burgess two RBI triple down the right field line. Junior Brad Boles reached on a fielder's choice, when Burgess was thrown out at home. Sophomore Daniel Magness walked and was pinch ran for by Freshman Austin Krum. Junior Matt Tucker followed with a two RBI double, scoring Boles and Krum and giving DBU their first lead of the game 5-4.
The Lions retook the game in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Milliron and scoring two more runs on a throwing error, making the score 7-5 after eight innings.
DBU threatened to score in the ninth, after Montgomery doubled to start the inning, but could not manage to score him, leaving the final score 7-5.
The Patriots resume action on Thursday afternoon in the playoff sector of Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. Game times and opponents will be decided following the conclusion of today's games.
