Heading into the final game of its series against Illinois, Penn State needed two things: its bats to wake up and its pitching to hold the team steady.
After losing to the Fighting Illini 6-1 in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday in Champaign, Illinois, the Nittany Lions came back to take the last game of the series in a 5-3 win, using powerful pitching and aggressive at bats.
In game two, freshman pitcher Justin Hagenman completed 8.1 innings while allowing just four hits, one unearned run and striking out six batters to allow the Lions’ offense to work their bats in a ninth inning rally.