Penn State baseball (11-2, 2-1 Big Ten) defeated Indiana (7-9, 1-2 Big Ten) 10-6 on Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

After four-and-a-third hitless innings, the Nittany Lions finally found their explosive offense late in the game. Ten runs in the final four innings propelled Penn State to a win and Big Ten series victory.

How It Happened

Pitcher Matt Morash got the start for Penn State and was a little shaky on the bump to start the game. Back to back singles by Indiana’s Andrew Wiggins and Devin Taylor got things started for the Hooisers. Wiggins tagged up on a fly out to right and scored courtesy of an RBI single to right by Joey Brenczewski. Indiana took an early 1-0 lead.

After a hard hit single was bobbled by second baseman Joe Jaconski on the outfield grass, Jaconski recovered and gunned down the Hooiser runner at home to end the inning. Penn State escaped relatively unscathed as they would come to bat.

After two quick outs on five pitches, the Nittany Lions finally got things started on the base path. A throwing error to first base by Indiana pitcher Cole Gilley, followed by a hit by pitch on Bryce Molinaro, left the Nittany Lions with base runners despite not recording a hit. They surrendered the two as the inning ended with a strikeout swinging. 

The top half of the second inning featured an Indiana runner caught stealing thanks to a great throw and tag by Matt Maloney and Weingartner. A called strike three would retire the Hoosiers’ side.

A leadoff walk by Jack Porter started things off for Penn State in the bottom of the frame. It didn’t get anything going, however, as Indiana recorded three outs on the next three batters.

The Hoosiers were able to add to their run total in the top of the third after a single and RBI double gave Indiana a 2-0 lead. Morash’s second strikeout on the day and a 1-3 groundout prevented future trouble.

Still searching for its first hit of the game, Penn State was unsuccessful in the third. The Nittany Lions went three up, three down. Indiana followed by facing a one-two-three inning of their own. Penn State once again followed suit in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Penn State manager Mike Gambino made a call to the bullpen in the fifth, as left-hander Anthony Steele made his way to the mound. A flyout, popout, and strikeout looking marked the strong start to Steele’s relief appearance.

In the bottom of the fifth, Penn State looked to break up Gilley’s no-hitter in the form of a bunt. Maloney was unsuccessful in the attempt, but Jesse Jaconski singled up the middle immediately after for the first Nittany Lion hit of the game. 

Cohl Mercado was the next batter for the blue and white, and he roped a single to center field. A fielding error by Indiana’s Korbyn Dickerson allowed Jesse Jaconski to score from first. Penn State cut the lead in half, now trailing 2-1.

After a stolen base by Mercado, a single up the middle by Kling tied the score at two. The flurry of hits prompted an Indiana pitching change, as Drew Buhr came into the game in relief of Gilly. Buhr got the Hoosiers out of the inning, but the Nittany Lions had already done some damage.

In the top of the sixth, a walk and two singles by Indiana loaded the bases with one out. Cole Decker came into the game to pinch run for Jake Stadler at first. Steele struck out the Hoosier seventh hitter and got the eighth hitter to pop out, escaping the jam. 

Walks by Molinaro and Cole Wagner in the bottom half of the inning, followed by a tag to third, set up a sac fly opportunity for Maloney. He tookadvantage, scoring Molinaro on a flyout to left field. Penn State took a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, a single and a walk sent Steele to the dugout, as Dimond Loosli came in for a relief appearance. Despite recording two consecutive outs, Indiana scored a run off of a groundout to the pitcher. It tied the score 3-3 before a strikeout swinging ended the top half of the frame.

After the stretch at Medlar Field, shaky pitching by Buhr helped the Nittany Lions load the bases with no outs. Joe Jaconski hit a hard lineout to center field, but it was deep enough to score a run as Penn State regained the lead. Another sac fly, this time by Molinaro, extended the lead even further. The score was now 5-3 in favor of the Nittany Lions.

In what would appear to be the final out of the inning, a collision in left field caused Indiana to drop the third-out popup. Heads up baserunning would allow a hustling Weingartner to score from first base. Penn State would head into the eighth inning with a commanding 6-3 advantage.

The top of the eighth featured a web gem by Kling, as he made an impressive sliding catch to rob Indiana’s TJ Schuyler of a hit. Indiana would go hitless in the frame.

Anthony Gubitosi relieved Buhr in the bottom of the eighth. The Nittany Lions built on their lead, courtesy of an RBI single by Kling. He was picked off at first base by Schuyler, the catcher. In an attempt to get out of the inning without further damage, Indiana made another call to the bullpen, bringing in Seth Benes trailing by four.

The pitching change was of no importance to the Penn State offense, as a two-run, opposite-field single by Joe Jaconski gave the Nittany Lions a 9-3 lead. Immediately after, Molinaro sent a ball to the center field wall for a stand-up, RBI double. Indiana would once again make a pitching change, bringing in lefty Matthew Bohnert. He would stop the bleeding for the Hoosiers as the game would go to its final inning.

The Nittany Lions would attempt to close out the series victory with Loosli still on the mound. While he was pulled in the middle of the frame, Chase Renner recorded the final two outs. Despite letting up a bases-clearing double, Penn State secured a 10-6 win.

Takeaways

• After being no-hit into the fifth inning, Penn State finally found some life. It tied the score thanks to three Nittany Lion singles and knocked the Hoosier starter out of the ballgame.
• The top and bottom of the Penn State order shined. Mercado had a strong game, recording two hits and three runs. His ability to hit for contact has made him an asset in the nine-hole. The leadoff hitter, Kling, notched two hits of his own, as well as two runs batted in.
• Despite having half as many hits as the Hoosiers, Penn State capitalized when it mattered most. Its ability to draw walks and hit with runners in scoring position proved vital.
• After splitting a doubleheader with Indiana on Friday, Penn State’s win secured the series victory. Their strong start to the season would continue at a season-high nine games over .500.

What’s Next?

Penn State will hit the road to begin a two-game series with Georgetown in Tysons, Virginia. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11.