UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned an 11-6 win over Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions overcame on early 3-0 deficit, boosted by a five-run third.
Penn State improved to 15-19 overall, while Mount St. Mary's dropped to 9-22.
Carson Kohls made his first career start, going 2.2 innings. He gave up three runs on six hits. Kohls struck out four batters and walked two. Chase Renner threw an inning, allowing a run and a hit while striking out three. Ryan Partridge pitched 1.1 frames, giving up two runs on two hits. Tommy Molsky finished the game, earning his first career save, throwing four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Molsky struck out two batters.
Bryant Shives started on the mound for Mount St. Mary's, throwing 2.1 innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits. Five Mount St. Mary's relievers combined to give up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits.
Penn State tallied 11 runs on 12 hits. Cole Bartels led the Nittny Lions with three hits, including two doubles, and a career-high four RBI. Jay Harry and Matt Wood each had two hits, including a double, two runs and an RBI. Josh Spiegel collected two hits and an RBI.
Mount St. Mary's recorded six runs on 11 hits. Thomas Bramley had three hits, includinga double, and scored a run. Tristan McAlister had a hit and two RBI, while Tyler Grodell had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
The Mountaineers got on the board with a run in the first inning. Three straight singles by Aiden Tierney, Bramley and McAlister allowed Tierney to cross the plate and give Mount St. Mary's a 1-0 lead.
Mount extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third. Bramley roped a two-out double to left. A walk by McAlister and a hit-by-pitch by Shane Wockley loaded the bases. A single down the line to left by Grodell drove homer Bramley and McAlister.
Penn State answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Tyson Cooper drew a one-out walk before Bartels doubled to the wall in left-center to score Cooper from first. Harry followed with a double to right, which missed being a homer by inches and plated Bartels. A single by Wood put runners on first and third. A double steal play moved Wood up to second and by drawing the throw down allowed Harry to score. Johnny Piacentino then reached on an error and stole second. An infield single by C.J. Pittaro drove home Wood and an error allowed Piacentino to score on the play and put PSU ahead, 5-3.
Mount St. Mary's scored a run in the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, McAlister walked to plate Brady Drawbaugh and cut the lead to 5-4.
The Nittany Lions responded with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Kailher began the inning with a walk before stealing second and moving up to third on a balk. A sac fly to left by Bartels scored Kailher. After a walk by Harry, Wood doubled off the wall in right to bring home Harry. Spiegel then singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to drive in Wood. Penn State led 8-4 after four.
Mount St. Mary's added two runs in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff double by Grodell and a sac bunt, Drawbaugh worked a walk with the fourth ball resulting in a passed ball to score Grodell. Tyler Long followed with a double to right-center to drive in Drawbaugh.
Penn State answered again, this time with two runs. With two outs, Kailher was hit by a pitch before Cooper drew a walk. Bartels recorded his second double of the day, lining a hit to right-center to score Kailher and Cooper. The Nittany Lions led 10-6 through five innings.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the eighth. Spiegel began the inning with an infield single. Piacentino then singled through the infield to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Tayven Kelley reached on a fielder's choice, which scored pinch-runner Kyle Hannon from third. Penn State extended its lead to 11-6.
Penn State then travels to Minnesota for a three-game Big Ten series on April 22-24. Friday's matchup is set for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch. Saturday is set to begin at 3 p.m. while Sunday is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Cole Bartels