COLUMBUS, OHIO - Nick O'Shea opened the scoring in an eight-run fourth inning with a two-run homer and capped it with an RBI single, and the Gophers beat Penn State 8-2 at Huntington Park on Thursday to stay alive in the Big Ten baseball tournament.

Lefthander Phil Isaksson struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings as the Gophers (23-23) remained in the double-elimination tournament after losing their opener to host Ohio State on Wednesday.

They face the Buckeyes again at 11:05 a.m. Friday; if they win, they will play Purdue at approximately 2:35 p.m.

"You build confidence when everybody hits, so that will hopefully carry over," Gophers coach John Anderson said.

After Justin Gominsky opened the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, O'Shea hit his seventh homer of the season to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead. Troy Larson and Matt Puhl followed with RBI singles to chase Nittany Lions starter Steven Hill, and after a double by AJ Pettersen, Andy Henkemeyer made it 6-0 with a two-run double.

Gominsky drove in Henkemeyer with a double, then scored on O'Shea's single for an 8-0 Gophers lead. O'Shea is now 4-for-8 with five RBI in the tournament, and Gominsky is 4-for-7 with four runs scored.

Isaksson (4-5) was pulled after walking three batters in the sixth. Righthander Billy Soule came on with the bases loaded, one out and a run in for the Nittany Lions (32-22), but he escaped with no further damage by striking out Michael Glantz and Blake Lynd.

Soule pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, giving up one hit.

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