Penn State baseball (16-33, 9-19 Big Ten) beat Maryland (25-19, 7-21 Big Ten) 13-3 in seven innings at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium in College Park, Maryland, on Thursday evening.

In the opener of their final regular-season series of the year, the Nittany Lions excelled offensively. The highlight of the game was Michael Anderson setting a new program record by hitting his 20th home run of the season.

How It Happened

Jayden Davis led off the game for the Nittany Lions by drawing a walk. Following a second walk drawn by Michael Anderson and a wild pitch, Bryce Molinaro batted in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. A fielding error allowed a second run to score before Jesse Jaconski grounded into a double play to end the top of the first.

Colin Fitzgerald started the contest on the mound for Penn State. He struck out two while allowing a mere single in a scoreless bottom of the first.

Avery Smith and Preston Yaucher reached in the top of the second with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, respectively. Despite two runners on base, Penn State couldn’t extend its lead, and the score remained 2-0.

David Mendez singled to lead off the bottom of the second for the Terrapins. He scored after a wild pitch and a Paul Jones II single. Another single and a walk loaded the bases for Maryland, but Fitzgerald found a way out of the inning to halt the Terrapins at just one run.

After Anderson was struck by a pitch, Jaconski homered for the first Penn State hit on the night, making it 4-1. Spencer Barnett was caught stealing after drawing a walk to end the top of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, Bud Coombs hit a leadoff single, paving the way for a two-run shot by Mendez. Fitzgerald struck out his next two batters faced to escape the inning.

Smith drew the fifth walk of the game for the Nittany Lions to begin the sixth. Maddox McDonald promptly brought him home with a home run to center field. After a Maryland pitching change, Yaucher singled. Anderson blasted a homer to make it 8-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, Fitzgerald allowed the bases to be loaded with two outs before getting pulled in favor of Ben DeMell, who struck out Ryan Costello to strand the runners and preserve Penn State’s lead.

Another leadoff walk was drawn in the top of the fifth, this time by Barnett. A single by Smith led to a McDonald double, scoring a run. Davis walked before an Anderson single scored two more. Molinaro doubled to score one more, but Anderson was called out at the plate to end a second consecutive four-run inning for Penn State.

DeMell struck out two in a scoreless bottom of the fifth to keep the game at 12-3.

Kevin Karstetter doubled to start the sixth inning. He scored an unearned run following two straight Terrapin fielding errors, giving the Nittany Lions a 10-run lead.

Mason Horwat took over pitching duties for the bottom of the sixth. He walked his second batter but kept Maryland off the board, giving Penn State a chance to end the game in the seventh.

A scoreless top of the seventh for Penn State was highlighted by a Jayden Davis single. He advanced to second after Anderson was hit by a pitch, but both runners were left stranded.

Now facing the 10-run rule, Maryland was down to its last legs in the bottom of the seventh. Despite allowing two walks, Horwat closed out the game without allowing any runs to end the game by the mercy rule in seven innings.

Takeaways

• Michael Anderson etched his name in Penn State history books. His two-run homer in the top of the fourth marked his 20th of the season, setting a new program record for home runs in a season.
• Maryland was terrible with runners on base, leaving 12 runners stranded compared to just five for the Nittany Lions.
• Penn State was the superior offensive team in every way, but particularly shone with two outs, hitting .429 (3-7) as opposed to the Terrapins’ .000 (0-7).

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will continue their series with the Terrapins on Friday, May 15, at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium in College Park, Maryland. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed on BTN+.