UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team started the weekend series against Minnesota with a 7-3 comeback victory at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. With the win, Penn State improved to 20-17 on the season and 7-9 in Big Ten play, while the Gophers dropped to 18-19 overall and 4-9 in conference.
Mason Horwat got the start for the Nittany Lions. He threw for 4.2 frames, giving up three runs on seven hits. He tallied two walks and a strikeout.
Matt Morash took the mound for two-thirds of an inning, allowing no hits or runs off five batters. David Lee entered in the top of the sixth, facing three batters and recording two outs. Will Perkowski took over in the seventh inning, striking out one in a scoreless frame to pick up the win. Anthony Steele earned the save, facing eight batters and recording three strikeouts, while allowing no runs.
Will Semb started on the mound for Minnesota. Semb saw action for 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He tallied five strikeouts and four walks. Will Whelan entered for the Gophers and allowed a hit and a run over one-third of an inning. Seth Clausen threw one inning, giving up a run, two hits and two walks. Caden Capomaccio took the mound in the bottom of the eighth, allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Tyler Hemmesch recorded the final two outs of the eighth.
The Nittany Lions tallied seven runs off 11 hits throughout the contest. Bobby Marsh recorded two hits, including a two-run single. Bryce Molinaro recorded three hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs. Tayven Kelley had a clutch two-run single.
Minnesota notched three runs off nine hits. Brady Counsell and Jake Perry both recorded a double. Ike Mezzenga and Weber Neels each tallied an RBI.
The Gophers jumped out to an early lead. Counsell led off the first inning with a double. An infield single by Perry placed runners at first and third. Neels lifted a sac fly to left to bring home Counsell. Minnesota led 1-0.
Minnesota extended its lead in the third. Perry started the inning with a single to right. Neels dropped a single into shallow center to put runners on first and second. Mezzenga sent a single through the middle, driving in Perry and moving Neels to third. A wild pitch allowed Neels to score. The Gophers held a 3-0 advantage.
Penn State chipped into the deficit in the sixth. With one out, Matt Maloney was hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a wild pitch before Kyle Hannon drew a four-pitch walk. Joe Jaconski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marsh lined a single to the gap in right-center to drive in Maloney and Hannon. Penn State trailed 3-2.
Penn State took the lead in the seventh. Adam Cecere drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Molinaro lined a double to left to put runners on second and third. Maloney walked to load the bases. Kelley delivered with a single to center to bring home Cecere and Molinaro. The Nittany Lions led 4-3.
The Blue and White tacked on three runs in the eighth. J.T. Marr was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. Marr moved up to second on a groundout before Grant Norris ripped a double to right-center to bring home Marr. Molinaro sent a single through the left side to plate Norris. After Molinaro stole second, Maloney followed with a single to left to drive in Molinaro. Penn State pushed its lead to 7-3.
The Nittany Lions continue the series with Minnesota. Saturday's contest is a 12:30 p.m. first pitch and features postgame autographs and a trading card set giveaway. Sunday's game begins at noon and celebrates National Superhero Day with a cape giveaway and postgame kids run the bases.
All home games are free admission for all ages.
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The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Tayven Kelley