Ference picked up the win after scattering four hits throughout his career-best 7 2/3 innings of work. Rich Schlamowitz worked out of trouble in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save and secure the Nittany Lions (1-1) first win of the season.

Ference was lifted in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and two runs crossing the plate. Bryer Eshbach got the final out to end the Scots (1-3) threat.

In the ninth, Alma pulled within one and had the tying run on second base with no outs. After a pop out on a failed sacrifice bunt, shortstop Nick Vitelli got the second out at first base with a game saving backhand stop. With the tying run on third, Schlamowitz issued another walk before getting a pop out to third to end the game.

Connor Corson reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances to fuel the offense. The freshman outfielder finished 2-for-2 with two walks and drove in a run, while Kyle Hartman went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI.

In the fourth, Corson walked and was bunted over to second on a sacrifice by Schlamowitz. Vitelli singled and a walk to Hartman loaded the bases. Senior Anthony Furillo drew a bases load walk to score Corson and Dillon Landrigan hit a sacrifice fly to score Vitelli.

The Lions tacked on two more in the fifth inning with some more small ball. Aaron Wilkins led off with a walk and Kevin Heilman dropped a sacrifice bunt. As luck would have it the bunt turned into a single and put runners on first and second with no outs. Corson faked a sacrifice and slashed an RBI single past the shifted infield. Hartman later doubled to score Heilman with two outs.

The Nittany Lions will return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Ohio Northern followed by a 1 p.m. tilt with Allegheny.