Penn State baseball (16-7, 5-4 Big Ten) lost 10-5 against Michigan State (16-7, 3-3 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Nittany Lions couldn’t keep up with the Spartans’ high-powered offense, as a four-run fifth inning was too much to overcome despite outhitting the visitors. It’s Penn State’s first Big Ten series loss of the season.

How It Happened

Both teams went scoreless in the first inning. Penn State, however, threatened with a Paxton Kling double that landed at the left-field wall.

Penn State starting pitcher Logan Olson labored through the second inning, though. He loaded the bases with one out, then walked home a run to give Michigan State a 1-0 lead. Jacob Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in another run before Olson was replaced by Matt Morash, who ended the frame.

Joe Jaconski hit a leadoff double, and Jack Porter walked with no outs. After tagging from second base on a sacrifice fly, Joe Jaconski scored off a single from Jesse Jaconski to make it 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning.

Both teams continued to pitch well for the next two innings. But in the top of the fifth, Morash allowed a single and issued a walk. Ryan McKay capitalized on this with a single to score a run and make it 3-1 Spartans. Then, Caleb Berry drove in a fourth run with a single, which put runners on first and third bases. McKay and Berry both ended up scoring, the former off of a double and the latter off a sacrifice groundout to give Michigan State a commanding 6-1 lead before the inning ended.

Penn State’s bats continued to be quiet, as Michigan State’s pitching and defense were sharp. However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Bryce Molinaro scored Ryan Weingartner on a single. Joe Jaconski then doubled to right field to score Kling and make it 6-3.

In the eighth inning, Michigan State threatened again. With runners on first and second bases, Berry drove one home with a single to take a 7-3 lead.

The Spartans piled on more runs in the ninth inning. A JT Sokolove double scored two, and he scored when McKay hit an RBI single to make it 10-4. Penn State tacked on a run in the bottom of the ninth, the Spartans quickly closed the door on further damage to secure a win.

Takeaways

• Penn State’s lackluster pitching gave Michigan State a huge opportunity. Not only did the Spartans score two runs, but loading the bases gave them ample time to familiarize themselves with Penn State’s style and eventually blow the game open in the fifth inning.
• The fifth inning, of course, decided the game. It’s hard to give up four runs and come back against a team that’s had a good series. Penn State’s bats have struggled as of late, and the same difficulties keeping pace and capitalizing were on display throughout the majority of the game.
• The Nittany Lions have lost three of their last four games, including two in this series. Slumps happen, but it’s early in the season and there’s room to learn from this moving forward.

What’s Next

Penn State hosts Pitt at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, meaning it’ll be dollar dog night.