Nittany Lions, Illini split baseball doubleheader

Freshman pitcher Justin Hagenman was sharp on the mound while Willie Burger came through with the clutch hit to give Penn State a 5-3 win over Illinois and split a Saturday doubleheader.

Burger’s pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth inning delivered the win in a game knotted 1-1 through eight innings. James Coates had been hit by a pitch one batter earlier to plate the go-ahead run before Burger’s shot.

Hagenman (4-1) gave up four hits, two walks, three runs and two earned runs while striking out six over 8 1/3 innings. Jack Anderson earned his seventh save of the season.

Jordan Bowersox hit a fourth-inning RBI single for the Nittany Lions’ earlier run.

The Illini took the opening game of the day 6-1, behind a complete-game one-hitter from Doug Hayes, who struck out three and walked one.

Jim Haley tripled for the team’s only hit and scored on a Greg Guers ground out in the fourth inning.

Jason Goldstein and Anthony Drago both homered for Illinois, with Drago’s a three-run shot.

Penn State hosts Youngstown State on Tuesday.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 12:14 AM with the headline "Nittany Lions, Illini split baseball doubleheader."