CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team dropped an 8-1 decision against Northeastern in the final game of the weekend at Coleman Field. The Nittany Lions fell to 1-3, while Northeastern improved to 2-2.
Freshman Tommy Molsky made a strong Nittany Lion debut on the mound. He threw six innings, giving up two unearned runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked one. Molsky didn't give up a hit through the first three innings.
Tyler Shingledecker entered in the seventh and went 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out three. Carson Kohls took over for the final out of the seventh. Tanner Folds threw one-third of an inning, giving up three runs on two hits, followed by Anthony Steele throwing one-third, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Ryan Partridge recorded the final out of the top ninth.
Wyatt Scotti got the start for Northeastern. He went six innings, allowing one run on seven hits. Scotti struck out two without walking a batter. Dennis Colleran came in to start the seventh inning and finished the game, allowing no runs or hits and striking out five.
Matt Wood had another strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Jay Harry also had two hits.
Mike Sirota went 4-for-5, including an RBI double, to lead the Huskies. Jeff Costello collected three hits and an RBI, while Spenser Smith hit a two-run triple.
Penn State loaded the bases in the first. With two outs, Josh Spiegel singled to left. Harry followed with his own single to left before Tayven Kelley sent a grounder up the middle to put three runners on. However, a ball got past the Northeastern catcher, but Spiegel was thrown out trying to score to end the inning.
Northeastern got on the board in the sixth. JP Olson reached on an error to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a pair of groundouts before scoring on a passed ball. Max Viera followed with a single and scored on a double by Sirota. Penn State trailed 2-0.
Penn State answered in the bottom of the sixth as Wood led off the frame with a homer to right, this third of the weekend.
The Huskies added a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Viera to drive in Costello. Northeastern tacked on five runs in the ninth. Mark Darakjy hit an RBI single to plate Justin Bosland. Smith plated two runs on a triple, followed by a ground ball single by Costello. An error later in the inning allowed Costello to score.
Penn State returns to Cary, N.C. on February 25-27 to take on Maine in a three-game series and William & Mary for one game. Friday's contest vs. Maine begins at 2 p.m., followed by a noon doubleheader against the Blackbears on Saturday and a 10 a.m. first pitch on Sunday vs. William & Mary.
Matt Wood