UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 9-7 against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions rallied for four runs to tie the game in the seventh, but the Bonnies responded with three runs in the eighth to re-take the lead. Penn State is now 11-7 on the season.
Matt Morash made his first career start for the Nittany Lions, going two innings. He allowed two runs on four hits. Morash recorded one strikeout and two walks. Mason Butash tossed an inning, giving up one run on two hits and two walks. Ben DeMell threw one inning, giving up three runs on five hits. James Lordi fired a scoreless fifth, including a strikeout.
Connor Throneberry threw a scoreless sixth and tallied a strikeout. Chic DeGaetano went one inning, allowing no runs. Will Perkowski allowed three runs on three hits in one inning before Derek Cease threw a shutout ninth.
Gabe Watts got the start for St. Bonaventure, throwing three innings. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out four. Bobby Finn worked three innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits. Ryan O'Connell walked all three batters he faced, who all eventually scored, before Andrew Ayers threw two-thirds of an inning and gave up one run. Noah Czajkowski finished the game to earn the win with 2.1 innings, giving up one unearned run.
Penn State tallied seven runs on eight hits. Matt Maloney drove in three runs with a double. Adam Cecere and Grant Norris each had two singles and a run. Kyle Hannon doubled and scored twice.
St. Bonaventure collected nine runs on 16 hits. Jackson DeJohn tallied three hits, an RBI and a run. Paul Vossen and Kyle Caccamise drove in two runs, while Adam Rankie had two hits, including an RBI double, and two runs.
The Bonnies got on the board in the top of the second. With two outs, Ryan Davis doubled to the wall in left. A single by Robert Mannino put runners on the corners. A walk by Caccamise loaded the bases. Vossen sent a ground ball into right to bring home Davis and Mannino, but Caccamise was thrown out at third to end the inning. Penn State trailed 2-0.
St. Bonaventure added a run in the third. Rankie led off the inning with a single up the middle. David Marshall and Antonio Cordeiro worked walks to load the bases. Two batters later, DeJohn lined a single to left to bring home Rankie. The Bonnies led 3-0.
The Nittany Lions answered with a run in the bottom half. Hannon dropped a soft line drive into right center and hustled to second for a double. Joe Jaconski walked before a flyout moved Hannon to third. A wild pitch allowed Hannon to cross the plate. Penn State trailed 3-1 through three.
St. Bonaventure plated three runs in the fourth. With one out, Caccamise singled to left. Two batters later, Rankie doubled to right to drive in Caccamise. A single by Marshall brought home Rankie. A single by Cordeiro put runners on first and second. Harrison Kaufman singled to right to drive in Marshall. The Bonnies led 6-1.
Penn State cut into the deficit in the sixth. With one out, Bryce Molinaro lined a single to right. A grounder by Norris resulted in a fielder's choice with an error allowing Molinaro to reach second. Maloney drew a walk to load the bases. Tayven Kelley lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly as Molinaro scored. Penn State trailed 6-2 through six innings.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the seventh. Jaconski, Cecere and J.T. Marr worked walks to begin the frame. A fly ball to right by Bobby Marsh resulted in a sac fly as Jaconski scored. Norris drew a walk to re-load the bases. Maloney then lifted a fly ball to center that drifted to the warning track for a double to clear the bases. The game was even at 6-6.
The Bonnies re-took the lead in the eighth. With one out, Cordeiro walked, Kaufman singled and DeJohn singled to load the bases. Mannino was hit by a pitch to allow Cordeiro to score. Caccamise followed with a two-run single to right to put St. Bonaventure ahead, 9-6.
Penn State got a run back in the bottom half. Hannon reached on an error to start the inning. Two batters later, Cecere singled to right. A single through the left side by Marr drove in Hannon to cut the deficit to 9-7.
Penn State welcomes Michigan to open Big Ten play on March 22-24.
First pitch on Friday is set for 5:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to Wear White. The first 100 students will receive Dunkin Giftcards.
Saturday is set for a 2 p.m. start. It is Bark In The Park Day in honor of National Puppy Day and features a dog bandana giveaway. Saturday also features postgame autographs and a trading cart set giveaway.
Sunday's series finale begins at 1 p.m. with postgame kids run the bases.
All home games are free admission for all ages.
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