Penn State baseball (9-1) survived FDU (0-11) 7-6 in the Nittany Lions’ home opener in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday evening.

It was a close affair the whole game, as both teams traded leads multiple times. However, Chase Renner entered and got the save in the ninth inning to win 7-6.

How It Happened

Penn State starting pitcher Matt Van Ostenbridge got through the first inning with ease, but he labored through the second. Jeremy Cheeseman doubled, then scored off an RBI single from Jimmy Mantuano. Mantuano advanced on a wild pitch and stole third, but Van Ostenbridge escaped the inning without additional damage.

In the bottom of the second inning, Bryce Molinaro reached third base and Jack Porter singled. Then, a deep sacrifice fly by Jesse Jaconski allowed Molinaro to tie the game. Joey DeMucci and Cohl Mercado walked to load the bases with two outs and Paxton Kling up to bat. However, he struck out to end the frame.

FDU grabbed another run in the third inning. Travis Stroh singled, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout, and then scored on a groundout from Joey DiMotta.

However, Penn State answered in turn in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Weingartner walked, then scored off a single from Joe Jaconski. Molinaro doubled to send Jaconski home, which gave the Nittany Lions a 3-2 lead. Molinaro added a fourth run on a sacrifice groundball before the inning ended.

Harrison Lollin entered for Van Ostenbridge in the fourth inning. He struggled, as Felix Gonzalez drove home two runners with a single to tie the game 4-4. Cohl Mercado gave Penn State another lead in the bottom of the inning by scoring off a passed ball from third base.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Nittany Lions put pressure on the Knights in the sixth. DeMucci and Mercado each reached second and third base with one out, and the former scored off a base hit from Weingartner while the latter made it home off a sacrifice fly to take a 7-4 lead.

In the top of the eighth inning, FDU loaded the bases with one out. Anthony Steele entered the game, then allowed a bases-clearing single which scored two runs, and the lead trimmed to 7-6 with runners on first and third base.

Renner entered to earn the save with Penn State up 7-6 in the top of the ninth inning. He allowed two baserunners, but got the three outs to secure the win.

Takeaways

• Van Ostenbridge had a mixed outing as a starter. He struck out three and posted a scoreless first inning, before laboring through the second and third innings with two runs allowed. There’s definitely room for improvement, while also reason for optimism.
• Kling had his first quiet night of the season, with no runs, walks, or hits. It’s unusual for the outfielder, as he was hitting .310 with 14 runs, 13 RBI, and six homers entering the night.
• It was a gritty performance from Penn State, as leads were traded multiple times. It’s the kind of fight that’s a promising sign from a young team.

What’s Next?

Penn State opens Big Ten play against Indiana at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The game will be televised on BTN+.