By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State defeated Canisius, 4-3, on Saturday with the help of a game-winning single by senior outfielder Sean Deegan in the bottom of the 11th, extending the Nittany Lions' winning streak to five games.

Sophomore transfer Joe Kurrasch pitched a gem against the Golden Griffins in front of about a dozen baseball scouts who had arrived in Happy Valley to watch the lefthander's performance.  Despite the added pressure, Kurrasch remained focused and threw for 6.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts.

"I don't think about it," said Kurrasch in reference to the presence of scouts at the game.  "When I'm pitching, it's mainly about pitching and our team getting a win."

After Canisius took an early 1-0 lead off of an unearned run in the first, Kurrasch and Golden Griffin starter Devon Stewart continued the pitchers duel into the sixth.  It was Deegan who finally struck back for the Nittany Lions with a solo shot over the right field wall, tying the game at one apiece.

"Joe was pitching great, so just to even it up and know that we had a chance, I thought that it was going to spark something," said Deegan

The hit was enough to awaken the offense as Penn State manufactured two runs in the seventh with two outs.  Sophomore catcher Alex Farkes started the rally, reaching first on a throwing error by the third baseman and advancing to second when junior Ryan Clark took his base on a walk.  Junior Elliot Searer then extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to left, scoring Farkes and giving the Nittany Lions the lead.  After intentionally walking Deegan to load the bases, Stewart plunked sophomore Steve Snyder to give Penn State the 3-1 advantage.

Canisius responded by scoring two runs in the eighth, tying the game at three.  In the top of the ninth, the Golden Griffins loaded the bases with one out when sophomore reliever Tim "The Gun" Dunn replaced Evan Dixon on the mound.  With one pitch, Dunn induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and the threat.  Dunn continued his dominance on the mound through the next two innings, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to win in the bottom of the eleventh.

"That just gives you momentum," said Deegan of Dunn's performance.  "He just kept going out there and keeping us in it, so that was just big."

The Golden Griffins had their ace closer in for a third straight inning when Penn State came to bat in the 11th.  Once again Farkes sparked the rally, battling for 12 pitches before finally earning first base on ball four.  Junior Matt Paradise bunted Farkes to second and Searer fought to obtain a walk of his own.  With runners on first and second, Deegan came to the plate and launched the game-winning single off the right field wall, giving the Nittany Lions the 4-3 win.

"I was just in a good situation," said Deegan.  "Alex [Farkes] had an awesome at bat and then Elliot [Searer] had a good at bat too and it was only one out so I knew I could be aggressive."

The dramatic victory was huge for the players' confidence and it showed their resolve to fight until the bitter end.

"For us to show the character that we had today and us sticking in it for as long as we did and not giving up says a lot," said Kurrasch.

Penn State concludes the series against Canisius on Sunday at 1 p.m.  Junior Steven Hill will take the mound for the Nittany Lions in their attempt to sweep the Golden Griffins at home.