UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 10-5 in its series finale against Michigan State on Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions scored three in the seventh to close to a two-run deficit but Michigan State responded with runs in the eighth and ninth. Penn State is now 16-7 overall (5-4 Big Ten), while Michigan State is 16-7 on the season (3-3 Big Ten).
Logan Olson got the start for the Nittany Lions, going 1.2 innings. He allowed two runs on one hit and three walks, while striking out two. Matt Morash went 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on four hits. He added two strikeouts and a walk.
Matthew VanOstenbridge fired two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two. Harrison Lollin went 1.1 frames, giving up one run and recording one strikeout. Mason Butash allowed three runs on two hits over 1.1 innings before Riley Weatherwax recorded the final out of the ninth.
Gannon Grundman started for Michigan State, throwing three innings. He gave up one run on three hits. Grundman walked two and struck out two. Logan Pikur went 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out two. Tate Farquhar threw two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run on two hits. Tyler Horvath closed out the game with two innings, allowing one run (unearned) and striking out two.
Penn State tallied five runs on 12 hits. Paxton Kling recorded three hits, including a double, and scored twice while adding a stolen base. Joe Jaconski had two doubles, driving in a run and scoring once. Nate Voss added two knocks, including an RBI single.
The Spartans notched 10 runs on 10 hits and benefited from 10 walks. Ryan McKay collected three hits and two RBI, while Caleb Berry drove in two runs and had two hits. Sam Busch had two hits, including an RBI double, and JT Sokolove added a two-run double and scored twice.
Michigan State got on the board in the second. Busch led off the frame with a single to right. A sac bunt moved Busch to second before walks by Will Shannon and Parker Picot loaded the bases. Jake Dresselhouse held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk to score Busch. Jacob Anderson lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly to bring in Shannon. Penn State trailed 2-0.
Penn State answered in the bottom half of the second. Jaconski started the inning with a double to right-center. After a walk by Jack Porter, Jaconski moved up to third on a flyout. Voss send a sharp grounder through the left side to bring home Jaconski. MSU led 2-1.
Michigan State added four runs in the fifth. Jacob Anderson led off the frame with a single. Sokolove drew a walk to put runners on first and second. McKay lined a single to left-center to bring in Anderson. A single to right by Berry brought in Sokolove. After a pitching change, a double to right by Busch drove in McKay and a groundout allowed Berry to score. PSU trailed 6-1.
Penn State tallied three runs in the seventh. With one out, Ryan Weingartner worked a walk. Kling followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Bryce Molinaro shot a grounder through the left side to bring in Weingartner. Jaconski lined a double to the corner in right to drive in Kling. Porter chopped a grounder to the left side to bring home Molinaro. PSU cut its deficit to 6-4.
The Spartans answered in the eighth. Nick Williams worked a walk to start the inning and moved up to second on a sac bunt. Two batters later, Berry sent a single into left to bring in Williams. Michigan State led 7-4.
Michigan State added three runs in the ninth. Shannon held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. Dresselhouse drew a walk before Sokolove lined a double to the left-center gap to bring in both runners. McKay followed with a single to right to plate Sokolove. The Spartans extended their lead to 10-4.
Penn State plated a run in the bottom of the ninth. Kling’s third hit of the day was a single to left. With two outs, a fly ball to right by Porter was misplayed as Kling hustled home.
The Nittany Lions are set to host two midweek games. Penn State will take on Pitt on Tuesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. on Dollar Dog Night, featuring $1 hot dogs. PSU hosts Bucknell on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. on PA Day.
Penn State continues Big Ten play next weekend at Michigan. Friday’s matchup is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch, followed by 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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.