Penn State baseball (25-14, 13-9 Big Ten) upset West Virginia (34-5, 13-4 Big 12) 3-2 on Tuesday evening in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Penn State rallied in the early innings to get the big upset against West Virginia.

How It Happened

Penn State started with Mason Butash as the pitcher in the top of the first. Butash and the Nittany Lions held off the Mountaineers from crossing home plate. In the bottom of the first, Jack Porter homered to right center field for the Nittany Lions, 1-0.

Jack Porter!!! He goes yard to right-center to get us on the board! Porter's 7th of the year!

B1 | PSU 1, WVU 0#WeAre pic.twitter.com/FpdgBRORx5

— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) April 22, 2025

In the bottom of the third, Skylar King doubled to left center, however, Butash and the Nittany Lions defense kept the Mountaineers from crossing home plate. In the bottom of the third, both Ryan Weingartner and Bryce Molinaro were able to get on base, but after a Mountaineer pitcher change, the Nittany Lions couldn’t cross home, and the score remained 1-0.

In the top of the fifth, the Nittany Lions made a pitcher change to Anthony Steele. Outfielder Cohl Mercado made an incredible catch for Penn State in the corner of right field to keep the Mountaineers from scoring. In the bottom of the fifth, Paxton Kling reached first base after a fielding error on the Mountaineers’ part. Porter quickly responded, singling to left field, as Kling advanced to second base. The Mountaineers made another pitcher change to Chase Meyer, but Kling and Porter crossed home when Molinaro singled towards right field; the score changed to 3-0.

Cohl Mercado!!! What a catch!!!

M5 | PSU 1, WVU 0#WeAre

Big Ten Network pic.twitter.com/TU5at8c7wI

— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) April 22, 2025

In the top of the sixth, Steele and the Nittany Lions once again held off the Mountaineers from scoring. The Mountaineers held off Penn State from scoring in the bottom of the sixth, and the score remained 3-0.

In the top of the seventh, the Nittany Lions changed pitchers to Matthew Vanostenbridge. The Mountaineers’ Brodie Kresser ran to home plate after Spencer Barnett’s homer to left field, and the score changed to 3-2 with the Mountaineers creeping up close behind. Vanostenbridge responded and struck out Kyle West.

The Mountaineers couldn’t get anything going in the top of the ninth, giving Penn State the upset win.

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions kept the Mountaineers from getting on base and scoring during the first inning. This readjustment was huge after Penn State struggled in the first innings this past weekend in the series against Purdue.
• Butash’s pitching was on fire tonight. Butash struck out the Mountaineers consistently for four innings and has 26 total from this season so far.
• West Virginia struggled both offensively and defensively. The constant outfield errors allowed Penn State time to advance bases and score.

What’s Next?

Penn State will travel to Jackie Robinson Stadium when it takes on UCLA at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 25.