BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Six Nittany Lions combined to launch seven homers as Penn State baseball team earned a 15-4 win in the series opener at Indiana on Friday night at Bart Kaufman Field. Penn State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and cruised to victory behind its power at the plate and Travis Luensmann's strong work on the mound. Penn State improved to 18-12 overall and 5-5 in Big Ten play. Indiana is now 18-16 overall and 3-4 in conference action.
The Nittany Lions' seven homers are Penn State's most in a game since at least 2004. The six different Nittany Lions homering is also Penn State's most in a game since at least 2004.
Penn State has tallied 12 or more runs in four-straight games for the first time since 1957 (15 vs. West Maryland, 4/10/57; 14 vs. Penn, 4/13/57; 14 vs. Bucknell, 4/16/57; 13 at Gettysburg, 4/19/57).
Luensmann got the start for the Nittany Lions. He went a season-high 6.1 frames and was charged with four runs (three earned) on four hits. The Altoona native recorded a season-best eight strikeouts and walked five. Luensmann retired 11-straight batters between the third and seventh innings.
David Lee tossed the final 2.2 frames, allowing no runs and striking out three.
Ty Bothwell started for Indiana, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits. He worked 4.1 innings, striking out three and walking one. Jack Moffitt threw 1.2 innings, giving up four runs on three hits. Eli Shaw worked a scoreless inning and struck out two. Ryan Rushing allowed one run on one hit over an inning. Seth Benes threw the ninth inning, giving up a run.
Penn State collected 15 runs on 14 hits. Bryce Molinaro launched two homers, his first career multi-homer game, and drove in three runs. Bobby Marsh went four-for-five, including a double and a homer, and scored three times. Joe Jaconski homered and scored four runs. Adam Cecere tallied three hits, including a homer, drove in four runs and scored twice. J.T. Marr had two hits, including a homer, and three RBI, while Grant Norris homered and drove in two runs.
Molinaro extended his hit streak to 14 games.
Indiana has four runs on five hits. Jasen Oliver had two hits and an RBI. Jake Stadler added an RBI single.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the first. Jaconski worked a full count before depositing a leadoff homer over the wall in right. Marsh followed with a single through the left side before Marr lined a single to left to put two runners on. Cecere ripped a single to right to drive in Marsh. A double play allowed Marr to score and give PSU a 3-0 lead.
Indiana got a run in the bottom of the second. Tyler Cerny led off the inning with a walk. With one out, Joey Brenczewski dropped a sac bun to move Cerny to second. Stadler dribbled a single through the middle to bring home Cerny. Penn State still led 3-1.
Penn State responded in the top of the third. A chopped grounder by Jaconski resulted in an error as Jaconski reached first. Two batters later, Marr launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right for a two-run blast. The Nittany Lions extended their lead to 5-1.
The Hoosiers scored in the bottom half, helped by an error. Carter Mathison worked a leadoff walk, followed by a single by Oliver. With two outs, Nick Mitchell reached on an infield single. On the play, a throwing error allowed Mathison to cross the plate and cut the PSU lead to 5-2.
The Nittany Lions exploded for four runs in the fifth, including three homers. Starting the inning, Marsh blasted a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right. Two batters later, Cecere crushed his 10th dinger of the year. After a walk by Norris, a 1-1 pitch to Molinaro was sent over the wall in right for an opposite field homer. Penn State pushed its lead to 9-2.
Penn State added on in the sixth. Kyle Hannon drew a walk to start the frame. Jaconski replaced Hannon at first after a fielder's choice. Marsh roped a double into the corner in right. Marr lifted a sac fly to left to bring home Jaconski before Cecere sent a single to center to drive in Marsh. After Cecere stole second, Norris launched a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left. Penn State led 13-2 through six.
Indiana cut into its deficit in the seventh. With one out, walks by Josh Pyne, Andrew Wiggins and Mathison loaded the bases. A single to right by Oliver brought home Pyne. A fielder's choice by Devin Taylor allowed Wiggins to score. Penn State still led, 13-4.
Penn State answered with a run in the top of the eighth. Jaconski worked a leadoff walk. A single by Marsh put runners at first and second. A fielder's choice allowed Jaconski to move to third. Cecere lifted a fly ball to left for a sac fly as Jaconski scored. Penn State extended its lead to 14-4.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the ninth on Molinaro's second homer of the night.
The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m. Penn State and Indiana meet in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are being broadcast on B1G+.
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.
