PENN STATE 9, UM 5; CANES DROP OPENING DAY GAME.

Not long after the pregame Opening Day pageantry did the Miami Hurricanes’ night unravel against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Gage Ziehl, who was making his first career start for the Hurricanes, tiptoed around trouble in the first when he gave up two early hits, but ultimately kept the Nittany Lions off the board.

Although he had not made an official collegiate start until Friday night, Ziehl started four games for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod league last summer. In eight total appearances, he went 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in striking out 38 and walking seven in 28 innings.

Ziehl, a sophomore who posted a 4.04 ERA in 30 relief appearances last season, gave up four runs in the second inning on a three-RBI double by Jay Harry followed by an RBI-double by Thomas Bramley.

“He was up a lot, falling behind a lot, and getting into a lot of deep counts,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “He’s got to do a better job.”

Whatever nerves Ziehl felt in the second inning followed him into the third. The New York native allowed three hits – including a leadoff solo home run to Kyle Hannon – without recording an out.

Ziehl was relieved by Ben Chestnutt, who made his first appearance for Miami after transferring from the College of Central Florida. Chestnutt struck out the side and stranded two runners.

DiMare said after the game that Chestnutt could be a mid-week starter. “Ben is one of the guys that might be a mid-week starter,” said DiMare, who added that his high pitch count means he won’t pitch again this weekend. “We put him in that role so if we get into (a tough) situation – which we did – we might need to bring him in for a long situation. He was great. We needed that.”