April 9, 2011

Box Score

WATCH: Game Highlights

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Rocky Miller Park)
Score: Penn State 12, Northwestern 0
Records: NU (8-18, 1-3 Big Ten), Penn State (18-9, 3-1 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Game 2 of doubleheader, 25 minutes following completion of first game

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Penn State took advantage of eight walks by Northwestern pitchers in taking the first game of a doubleheader 12-0 Saturday at Rocky Miller Park.

Penn State jumped out to an early lead, getting a two-out, two-run double from Mario Eramo off Wildcat starter Michael Jahns in the top of the first.

Northwestern put three consecutive men on base with two outs in the bottom half of the first, but Steven Hill was able to hold the Wildcats scoreless.

The Nittany Lions added to their lead in the second on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Steranka before breaking the game open with three runs in the third. Jahns struggled with his command, allowing three walks in the inning while an error helped the visitors' cause.

For the second time in three innings, the Wildcats put three men aboard with two outs but again came up empty.

Henry Brooke came on in relief to start the fourth and allowed a pair of baserunners before getting Eramo to ground into a double play that plated Penn State's seventh run.

Joey DeBernardis added an RBI double in the sixth before the Nittany Lions pulled away with four runs in the seventh on run-scoring singles by Luis Montesinos and DeBernardis and a two-run double by Steranka.

Northwestern collected seven hits and drew two walks, but could never break through for a run against Hill who went the distance to earn the shutout win. Jahns (1-3) took the loss for the Wildcats.

The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader approximately 25 minutes following the completion of the first game.

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