UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped a 20-6 decision to Rutgers in the final game of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Despite a comeback bid in the fifth and sixth innings for the Nittany Lions, where they combined for six runs, it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Penn State fell to 8-13 (1-2, Big Ten) with the defeat, while Rutgers improved to 16-6 (2-1, Big Ten).
Chase Renner made his first career start for the Nittany Lions, pitching the first inning and giving up three runs. Penn State used eight pitchers in relief to close out the game. Jordan Morales, Mason Mellott, Ryan Partridge, Seneca Gregory, Carson Kohls, Anthony Steele, Chad Rogers and Blaise Sclafani finished out the game.
Mellott pitched a scoreless third inning, while Kohls went 2.2 innings allowing one run and one hit.
Nathan Florence got the start for Rutgers, the senior righthander went five innings with five strikeouts. He gave up five runs off five hits and two walks. He was relieved by Garrett French who pitched the next three innings, giving up only one run (unearned) off two hits. Parker Scott closed out the game for Rutgers by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
The Penn State offense scored six runs off seven hits and six walks, led by Matt Wood. The catcher went three-for-four on the day with an RBI. Johnny Piacentino added a two-run triple. CJ Pittaro drove in three runs. Cole Bartels and Jay Harry each collected a hit.
Scoring 20 runs off 25 hits, the Scarlett Knights were led by Danny DiGeorgio and Tony Santa Maria, who each finished with five hits on the afternoon. Ryan Lasko reached base six times, finishing with four hits, three RBIs and a home run. Nick Cimillo collected four hits to go along with three runs scored.
The Scarlet Knights plated three runs in the first, off a two-run single by Evan Sleight and an RBI double by Garrett Callaghan. Rutgers added two in the fifth off a solo homer by Lasko and an RBI single by DiGeorgio.
Two runs crossed the plate for Rutgers in the fourth with Santa Maria recording a two-run single. Four runs scored in the fifth, including RBI singles by Santa Maria and Richie Schiekofer. Rutgers led 11-0 after five.
However, the Nittany Lions found a spark in the bottom of the fifth. Harry reached on a one-out single before Tayven Kelley drew a walk. A wild pitch pushed the runners to second and third for Pittaro, who lined a single to center to score both. Following a walk by Billy Gerlott, Piacentino crushed a fly ball off the wall in right for a two-run triple, his first career triple. A single to center by Wood plated Piacentino to cut the deficit to 11-5.
Penn State added a run in the sixth. Cole Bartels reached on an error to begin the inning. Harry drew a walk to put two runners on base. A fielder's choice put runners at the corners and a walk by Ben Kailher loaded the bases. A ground ball to the pitcher by Pittaro allowed Bartels to cross the plate. Penn State trailed 11-6 after six innings.
Rutgers got an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single by Cimillo.
The Scarlet Knights exploded for eight runs in the ninth to put the game away. The eight runs included a two-run double by Lasko, a two-run single by Schiekofer and an RBI triple by DiGeorgio.
The Nittany Lions host two mid-week games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to finish off their March home stand.
Penn State hosts Pitt on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and St. Bonaventure on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Both games will be livestreamed on B1G+.
The Nittany Lions continue Big Ten play next weekend at No. 22 Maryland.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
C.J. Pittaro