Penn State baseball (11-7) fell 9-7 to St. Bonaventure (8-11) on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Bonnies outplayed the Nittany Lions throughout the game, efficiently moving runners and keeping pressure on them the whole game. It simply wasn’t Penn State’s night as it lost its seventh game of the campaign.

How It Happened

After a scoreless first inning, Penn State couldn’t keep St. Bonaventure scoreless in the second inning. Matt Morash loaded the bases, and with two outs, allowed a two-run single that resulted in Kyle Caccamise being thrown out at third base to end the frame.

Mason Butash replaced Morash in the third inning. He loaded the bases with the first three hitters he faced. Jackson DeJohn nabbed a base hit, and one runner scored to make it 3-0. But then, Grant Norris fielded a ground ball and made a double play to end the inning.

The Nittany Lions responded in the bottom of the third inning, though. Kyle Hannon doubled to right field and Joe Jaconski walked, which put two runners on base. Hannon did score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1, but that was all the team accomplished.

Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, the Bonnies kept their feet on the gas pedal. They scored another three runs in the fourth inning as Ben DeMell labored through the batting order.

Meanwhile, Penn State couldn’t generate any offense. Norris was the only Nittany Lion to get on base in the fourth inning despite facing Bobby Finn, who entered the game with a 12.60 ERA.

Bryce Molinaro singled and Grant Norris reached on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning. Then, Matt Maloney walked on four pitches to load the bases. Tayven Kelly hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Molinaro to make it 6-2.

Jaconski, Adam Cecere, and J.T. Marr each walked to begin the bottom of the seventh. Bobby Marsh’s fly ball was caught practically at the wall, so Jaconski tagged up to score with ease. Maloney came up again and smacked a bases-clearing triple to tie it 6-6.

Will Perkowski pitched the eighth inning for Penn State. Two batters were retired, but he walked in a run after loading the bases to give the Bonnies a 7-6 lead. Things worsened as Caccamise drove in two more runs with an RBI single.

Cecere drove Kyle Hannon to third base with his single. Hannon reached home plate on a single from Marr to make it 9-7, but the inning ended on a double play on the next at-bat.

Derek Cease entered to pitch the ninth inning. He walked two batters but fanned another, putting Penn State in a precarious position with two runners on and only one out. However, the infield defense clutched up with a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the inning.

Molinaro reached first base after David Marshall bobbled the ground ball at shortstop. Norris and Maloney struck out, which put the game’s fate in Michael DiMartini’s hands. DiMartini went down looking to give the Bonnies a 9-7 win.

Takeaways

• Penn State’s bats went silent despite scoring seven runs. The Nittany Lions only had eight hits and just didn’t seem like themselves at the plate tonight.
• Additionally, the pitching left a lot to be desired. 16 hits against the Bonnies doomed this team because so many runners were allowed on base, and although the defense improved from last weekend, it still wasn’t enough.
• Maybe it was the cold weather, but this overall wasn’t an inspiring performance. Hopefully it’s a lesson that’ll be learned when Big Ten play kicks off this weekend.

What’s Next?

Penn State hosts Michigan for a three-game series beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The game will be televised on BTN+.