Penn State baseball (8-1) outlasted William & Mary (4-7) 7-6 on Sunday afternoon in Plumeri Park in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Both teams traded blows throughout the game, but a clutch ninth-inning secured another win for Penn State ahead of its home opener this week.

How It Happened

Penn State went scoreless in the top of the first inning. However, William & Mary got runners on first and second base. Anthony Greco drove in one run with a single, then Derek Holmes drove two more home with another single to give the Tribe a 3-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions didn’t go quietly in the second inning, though. Jack Porter and Matt Maloney got on base, and the former later scored after Jesse Jaconski hit a single. Cohl Mercado singled to load the bases, and then, Paxton Kling reached home plate on a fielder’s choice. Maloney was thrown out at the dish on the same play, but Ryan Weingartner drove in Mercado to tie it 3-3.

Both teams had a scoreless third and fourth innings.

In the fifth inning, two Nittany Lions got on base. Maloney doubled, which sent Porter and Cole Wagner home to make it 5-3.

The Tribe responded in turn in the bottom of the fifth, with two runners getting on base. Holmes continued a productive afternoon with an RBI single to make it 5-4.

In the sixth inning, the Tribe kept pouring it on. They put runners on first and second base, and Lucas Carmichael drove one in to tie it 5-5.

Both teams traded blows in the seventh inning. Maloney hit an RBI single, but Charlie Iriotakis followed suit in the bottom of the frame to make it 7-7.

Joe Jaconski walked to begin the top of the ninth inning. He stole second, then scored off a wild pitch to take a 7-6 lead.

Dimond Loosli entered with hopes of closing the game out. He got two outs then allowed a single, but got the final out to secure a 7-6 victory.

Takeaways

• Loosli took a big step in proving why he should be Penn State’s closer. In a one-run game on the road, he held the lead with ease and got the save. The ability to do that in a high-leverage situation is crucial for any aspiring closer.
• Wagner and Porter continued to prove why they belong in the starting lineup. Each had a hit for two runs.
• Penn State hasn’t played at home yet, and it only has one loss. There are early signs based on its offensive power and pitching that this could be a force to be reckoned with, and that was on display in today’s win.

What’s Next

Penn State hosts FDU at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. It’s Penn State’s home opener and Dollar Dog Night.