CARY, NC – Monmouth University Baseball (0-1) allowed just four hits and one run to Big Ten member Penn State University (1-0) on Friday afternoon to open the 2019 season, but fell to the Nittany Lions in the ninth inning, 1-0. Dan Klepchick (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) struck out six in 6.2 shutout innings, walking just one and allowing three hits. 

Penn State scored the game's lone run in the ninth inning without a hit. A hit by pitch and an error put runners on the corners with nobody out before a strikeout and a walk filled the bases with one away. Kyle Ajjan (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) came on in relief and hit Ryan Sloninger with a pitch to force in the game's only run, giving Penn State the 1-0 win in the opener.

MU had chances earlier in the ballgame, including loading the bases in the fourth after a walk and a JD Andreessen (Depew, NY/Lancaster/Campbell) single, Monmouth's first hit of the season. Johnny Zega (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but PSU starter Dante Biasi forced Nick Campana (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) to foul out to end the stretch. At one point in the middle of the game, Klepchick set down seven in a row to keep the hosts off the board.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"All in all we really played hard. We couldn't catch a break on offense and the Penn State pitchers had a lot to do with that. I'm not sure the score was indicative of our effort. I am certain this game will help us moving forward. Looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

-Dan Klepchick made his first career opening day start.
-Klepchick's 6.2 innings is the deepest a Hawk pitcher has gone into an opener without allowing a run since Andrew McGee took a shutout into the ninth to open the 2014 season at Florida Atlantic.
-The all-time series now stands at 3-2 Monmouth, and this game snaps a three-game MU winning streak in the series.
-Four hits is the least MU has allowed in a game since 5/12/18, a win over Siena.
-Ryan Lillie suffered his first career loss in his 28^th appearance.
-Dean Ehehalt is now 9-17 in openers at Monmouth, winning five of the last nine.
-Stephen Aldrich was the lone Hawk to make his collegiate debut, registering a ninth-inning strikeout.
-Dating back to last season, Zach Schild's five-game hitting streak was snapped.
-JD Andreessen started in left field, his first game as Hawk starting in the outfield.
-Nick Campana started his fifth career game at first base.
-Max Goione made his ninth start as a Hawk, all of them coming at second base.
-Danny Long started his third straight opener at shortstop.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks were outhit in the game, 4-3.
-MU left eight runners aboard to PSU's four.
-Each team committed two errors.
-Klepchick threw 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six in a no decision.
-Ryan Lillie was responsible for the lone run, taking his first career loss.
-Mason Mellott earned the win for PSU, tossing four scoreless innings in relief.
-Biasi fired five shutout innings for the Nittany Lions, joining Klepchick in being credited with a no decision.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Penn State will square off again tomorrow in Cary, NC with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.