OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Matt Wood hit a three-run homer, Tyler Shingledecker and Travis Luensmann combined on a two-hitter, and sixth-seeded Penn State defeated third-seeded Iowa 5-2 on Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament opener.
Wood, the Nittany Lion’s first first-team all-conference pick since 2012, smashed a drive over the right-field wall in the sixth inning for a 5-1 lead.
The Lions (26-27) and Hawkeyes (33-18) play on Friday against the winner and loser from the Purdue-Rutgers game.
Shingledecker went 5 2/3 innings, allowing both runs but just one hit, striking out eight to improve to 7-3. Luensmann came on to get the last out in the sixth after he allowed a single, combined with a throwing error, to produce Iowa’s second run.. Luensmann allowed a hit with seven strikeouts for his second save.
Anthony Steele had a two-run single for Penn State in the third with Iowa getting one back in the bottom of the inning.
Wood, a catcher who hit .395 with 11 homers and 50 runs batted in during the regular season, hit a 3-2 pitch after No. 9 hitter Derek Cease was hit by a pitch and Jay Harry walked with two outs. Wood is the first Nittany Lion to drive in three runs in a tournament game since 2008.
Three Iowa pitchers combined on a five-hitter with 17 strikeouts.
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