UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Michigan State scored early and kept the Penn State offense in check for a 7-0 victory in Big Ten baseball action Fridayevening in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
LHP Cam Vieaux (5-1) struck out six and allowed just five hits and a walk in seven innings of work to earn the win for Michigan State (20-5, 4-0 Big Ten). RHP Dakota Mekkes and LHP Joe Mockbee each worked a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.
Penn State (17-13, 4-3 Big Ten) was limited to six hits for the game, seeing its eight-game winning streak and 10-game home winning streak come to an end.
Right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.) extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-4 night to lead the Nittany Lions at the plate.
All nine Spartans in the lineup tallied a hit, totaling 15 led by four players with multi-hit games. First baseman Jordan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 18 games reaching base four times by going 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI on a sacrifice fly, while designated hitter Brandon Hughes and right fielder Kris Simonton both went 3-for-5 with Hughes adding two runs and an RBI. Additionally, left fielder Taylor Grace drove in two runs.
Michigan State put a run on the board in the first inning, as Zimmerman reached on a one out single, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a base hit by Brandon Hughes.
Penn State threatened in the bottom half with leadoff singles by shortstop Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C.) and right fielder Nick Riotto (Washington, Pa.), but after a sacrifice bunt moved them both into scoring position, Vieaux retired the next two batters with help from Zimmerman making an over-the-shoulder catch on a bloop hit behind first base.
Michigan State left the bases loaded in the second but went ahead 3-0 in the third on a two-RBI single by Grace. Second baseman Dan Durkin then delivered with an RBI-single in the fourth to chase LHP Taylor Lehman (1-6) (Pittsburgh, Pa.). For the night, Lehman allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings.
RHP Dakota Forsyth (Bethel Park, Pa.) relieved him and induced an inning-ending double play to prevent any further damage. Forsyth slowed the Spartans as he only yielded two unearned runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work.
After the first inning, Vieaux didn’t run into trouble again until the seventh when designated hitter Greg Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) and Tyler Kendall (Boynton Beach, Fla.) led the frame off with base hits. They both advanced a base with one out on a double steal but Vieaux was able to induce a pop out and strikeout looking to end the threat.
Michigan State added a run in each of the final three innings, with the runs in the seventh and eighth coming unearned. Third baseman Justin Hovis tripled in the ninth and scored on a wild pitch.
The two teams will not play Sunday due to a forecast of inclement weather, but will return to the field Sunday at 11 a.m. for a doubleheader.
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