UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 12-0 to Milwaukee at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Sunday. Despite the loss, the Nittany Lions (7-10) took two of three from the Panthers (6-8) in their first home series of the season.
Mason Mellott started for the Nittany Lions, throwing one-third of an innings. Mellott gave up four runs on three hits and two walks. Ryan Partridge came on in relief, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on one hit and striking out two. Seneca Gregory threw one-third of an inning, allowing two runs, while Chad Rogers gave up three runs in one inning of work. Tanner Folds threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing a run.
Carson Kohls took over in the sixth inning, throwing two frames allowing one run on two hits. Chase Renner threw a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. Anthony Steele took over in the ninth, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
A run in the third inning snapped the Nittany Lion bullpen's scoreless streak at 19.1 innings without allowing a run.
AJ Blubaugh started on the mound for Milwaukee, throwing seven scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and struck out four. Logan Schulfer went an inning and struck out two, while Andrew Neu pitched a scoreless ninth.
Cole Bartels extended his hitting streak to 16 games this season with a base hit in the ninth inning. Steele, who started the game as the designated hitter, Billy Gerlott and Josh Spiegel each had a single.
Aaron Chapman led the offensive attack for Milwaukee, going three-for-five on the day with five RBI. Zach Nogalski had a triple, while Jack Thelen had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Luke Seidel added an RBI double. The Panthers racked up 12 hits in the contest, with four going for extra bases.
Milwaukee started its scoring in the first, when a bases-loaded single off the bat of Chapman brought in two runners. Nate DeYoung followed up with an RBI single, giving the Panthers an early 3-0 lead. Quinton Morris brought home another Milwaukee run on a sac fly to right field before the inning ended.
The Panthers added three runs in the fourth. Seidel had an RBI double to left to bring home Thelen before a single to right by Mark Connelly plated Seidel. Chapman added an infield single that allowed Ty Olejnik to cross the plate. Milwaukee led 7-0 after four.
Milwaukee scored five runs in the fifth, including two on a double to center by Chapman. The Panthers added another run in the sixth on an RBI ground out by Thelen.
The Nittany Lions continue their home stretch, hosting Youngstown State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game will be livestreamed on B1G+.
Penn State begins Big Ten play next weekend, March 25-27, welcoming Rutgers. Friday's contest is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's contest, on Big Ten Network, is set for a 5 p.m. start and Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m. Friday and Sunday's games will be on B1G+.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Cole Bartels