UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 4-0 against Michigan State on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the third before adding on in the seventh and eighth. The Nittany Lions are now 15-6 overall (4-3 Big Ten), while Michigan State improved to 15-6 (2-2 Big Ten).
Junior Ryan DeSanto got the start for the Nittany Lions. He worked four innings, giving up two runs on three hits. DeSanto recorded five strikeouts and two walks. He notched two strikeouts in the first and three strikeouts in the second.
Ben DeMell tossed three innings, allowing one run on three hits. He secured two strikeouts and walked three batters. Matthew VanOstenbridge went one inning, giving up one run (unearned) on two hits and striking out one. Connor Throneberry threw one-third of an inning before Brandon Wingenroth finished the ninth.
Joseph Dzierwa started for Michigan State, going five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and two walks, while striking out five. Dominic Pianto fired 3.2 shutout innings and struck out four. Tyler Horvath got the final out of the ninth.
Penn State tallied three hits. Paxton Kling recorded a double, while Cohl Mercado and Jack Porter added singles.
The Spartans plated four runs on 10 hits. Ryan McKay collected five hits, including two doubles, an RBI and two runs. Caleb Berry added an RBI double.
Penn State threatened to score in the second. Bryce Molinaro held off on a 3-2 pitch to work a leadoff walk. With two outs, Mercado lined a single to right. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. However, a strikeout ended the inning.
The Spartans got on the board in the third. McKay reached on a leadoff single to center. Berry was hit by a pitch before Sam Busch reached on a walk to load the bases. A pop up by Randy Seymour was ruled an infield fly, but McKay scored on the play. Will Shannon lifted a fly ball to right for a sac fly as Berry crossed the plate. Michigan State led 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, Kling lined a two-out double to right, but a groundout ended the frame.
In the fifth, Mercado reached on an error to begin the inning. He moved up to second on a balk before Jesse Jaconski worked a walk. Ryan Weingartner lifted a fly ball to right to move Mercado to third. However, a flyout to center ended the inning.
Michigan State added a run in the seventh. McKay began the inning with a bloop single to left. He stole second before Berry lined a double off the wall in left to bring in McKay. MSU pushed its lead to 3-0.
The Spartans plated a run in the eighth. Nick Williams reached on an error to start the inning. JT Sokolove dropped a bunt single to put runners on first and second. McKay lined a single to right-center to bring home pinch-runner Jake Dresselhouse. The Spartans led 4-0.
Penn State continues the series with Michigan State on Saturday at 2 p.m. featuring postgame autographs and a trading card set giveaway.
The Nittany Lions and the Spartans conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Bark in the Park, in honor of National Puppy Day. Sunday will also feature postgame kids run the bases.
Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
All home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.