CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team fell, 10-1, against Monmouth on Friday in its season opener at Coleman Field in the USA baseball complex.
Travis Luensmann made his Penn State debut on the mound, throwing 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits. Luensmann struck out seven and walked five batters. He struck out two Monmouth hitters in the first inning and three in the third.
Luensmann's seven strikeouts are the most by a Penn State starter in a season opener since Justin Hagenman's seven against Elon in 2018.
Tyler Shingledecker entered the game in the Top 5th, throwing a scoreless inning and striking out two. Carson Kohls followed, going two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run and two walks. Ryan Partridge threw one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on two hits, before Chad Rogers entered and went 1.2 innings giving up two runs. Derek Cease pitched the ninth inning allowing one unearned run.
Matt Wood recorded an RBI for the Nittany Lions. Kyle Hannon collected a double, while Jay Harry and Johnny Piacentino each had base hits.
Trey Dombrowski started on the mound for Monmouth. the junior threw six innings and struck out seven, while only allowing one baserunner on a hit-by-pitch. Stephen Aldrich came in the game in the seventh inning closed out the game, giving up one unearned run and striking out four.
Chris Andrews and Alex Barker each had three hits for the Hawks. Andrews notched three RBI, while Barker scored two runs. Dixon Black hit a solo home run.
Monmouth got on the board in the second inning. With the bases loaded, after a walk and two singles, Brady Mutz drew a walk to plate Barker. The Hawks added another run on a fielder's choice by Jake Catalano, which resulted in a throwing error that hit Catalano and allowed Joey Ventresca to score. A leadoff home run in the third inning by Black extended Monmouth's lead to 3-0.
The Hawks scored four runs in the seventh. An rbi single by Andrews drove in James Harmstead. Two batters later, Catalano hit a sac fly to center to plate Barker. Colin McCreary followed with a two-run single to left to put Monmouth ahead, 7-0. Andrews plated a run in the top eighth on an RBI single, while Catalano recorded another sac fly to extend Monmouth's lead to 9-0.
Penn State threatened in the bottom of the eighth. Harry led off the inning with a single down the line into right field. However, a double play cleared the bases. Hannon then drove a double into left with two outs. A strikeout ended the frame.
After the Hawks added a run in the top of the ninth, the Nittany Lions plated a run. C.J. Pittaro began the inning by reaching on an error, which allowed him to go to second base. Pittaro moved to third on a groundout. Wood then sent a grounder to second base to drive in Pittaro. The inning continued as Piacentino reached on an infield single and Josh Spiegel drew a walk to put runners at first and second. However, a strikeout ended the inning.
The Nittany Lions continue their opening weekend on Saturday with a doubleheader against LIU. First pitch of game one begins at noon.
Penn State concludes the weekend on Sunday with a 10 a.m. contest vs. Northeastern.
Tyler Shingledecker