CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team tied the game in the ninth and won in the 10th in its season opener on Friday against Monmouth. The Nittany Lions earned a 6-5 win for their first victory under head coach Mike Gambino.
Matt Maloney tied the game in the ninth with a two-run single to right. In the 10th, J.T. Marr worked a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded to bring home Kyle Hannon in a walk-off win.
Travis Luensmann got the start for the Nittany Lions. Luensmann went six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits. He tallied three strikeouts and three walks.
Mason Horwat entered the game to begin the seventh. He gave up one run (unearned) but struck out three batters. Anthony Steele pitched two scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth innings, adding two strikeouts. David Lee threw in the 10th inning with one unearned run scoring.
Drew Helmstetter started for Monmouth. Helmstetter tossed four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out three batters and walked two. Dante Ciaramella threw five innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Jake Fraher entered the game to begin the 10th and allowed two runs (one earned).
The Nittany Lions collected six runs on seven hits. Maloney tallied two hits, a run and four RBI in his Penn State debut. Marr notched three hits, two runs and an RBI in his first game in a Nittany Lion uniform. Bobby Marsh added a double and a run.
Monmouth had five runs on six hits. Joey Ventresca hit a two-run homer, while Harry Padden had a double and an RBI.
The Hawks took advantage of an error in the top of the second to push across the game's first run as Eric Sabato scored on a fielder's choice by Padden. Monmouth led 1-0.
Monmouth added two runs in the top of the third. With two outs, Ventresca cleared the fence in right for a two-run homer. The Hawks held a 3-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Marr started the inning with a single to center. Two batters later, Marsh drew a walk. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third. With two outs, Maloney lined a single to right to drive in Marr and Marsh. Penn State cut its deficit to 3-2 through four.
Monmouth plated a run in the top of the seventh. Padden began the inning with a double. Two batters later, an error allowed Padded to cross the plate. Monmouth led 4-2.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the ninth. Marr reached on a leadoff single before Grant Norris drew a walk. A groundout by Marsh moved runners to second and third. Two batters later, Maloney ripped a single down the line in right to plate Marr and pinch-runner Derek Cease. Penn State evened the game at 4-4.
Monmouth scored in the top of the 10th. Skyler Saunders was placed on second to start the inning. On a bunt, a throwing error allowed Saunders to score and put the Hawks on top, 5-4.
In the bottom of the 10th, Maloney was placed on second to begin the frame. Pinch-hitter Joe Jaconski laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Maloney to third. A chopper down the third base line by Hannon resulted in a single. Adam Cecere worked a walk to load the bases. Bryce Molinaro was hit by a 1-0 pitch to plate Maloney from third and keep the bases loaded. Marr laid off a 3-0 pitch to drew a walk and allow Hannon to score the game-winning run.
Penn State is set for a doubleheader on Saturday. The Nittany Lions take on Army at noon and Monmouth at 4 p.m.
The blue and white concludes the weekend on Sunday against Army at 1:30 p.m.
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please follow @pennstatebase on X and Instagram.
The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Matt Maloney