UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team rallied in the seventh and eighth innings to earn an 8-7 win over Omaha on Friday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions tied the game in the seventh and took the lead in the eighth.
Penn State improved to 19-21 overall, while Omaha dropped to 19-20.
Travis Luensmann made his ninth start of the season, going four innings. He allowed four runs on six hits. Luensmann struck out six batters and walked five. Carson Kohls entered the game in the fifth, throwing one-third of an inning and giving up three runs (unearned) on two hits. Jaden Henline finished out the game, going 4.2 shutout innings. He allowed just two hits and a walk, while striking out four to pick up his first career win.
Brady Posch started for the Mavericks, throwing one inning and into the second. He allowed one run on two hits while walking three. Easton Smith threw 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on three hits before being replaced by Tanner Howe, who threw 0.2 scoreless frames. Parker Weddle pitched an inning, giving up a run on two hits before Tyler Mattingley threw the final three innings, giving up two runs (both unearned) on two hits.
Penn State tallied eight runs on nine hits. Derek Cease went two-for-three with two runs and an RBI. Johnny Piacentino drove in two runs with a triple, while Josh Spiegel had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Matt Wood had an RBI single and scored two runs.
Harrison Denk and Eddie Satisky each had two hits and two RBI to lead an Omaha offense that collected seven runs on 10 hits.
The Mavericks got on the board in the first inning. With two outs and a runner on second, a single through the right side by Devin Hurdle allowed Denk to score.
The Nittany Lions answered with a run in the bottom half. With two outs, Wood was hit by a pitch and Spiegel singled up the middle to put two runners on base. Jay Harry sent a 1-2 pitch on the ground past the first baseman and into right field for an RBI single, scoring Wood. The teams were tied 1-1 after the first.
Penn State plated four runs in the fourth. Back-to-back walks by Cease and Cole Bartels, and a wild pitch, setup runners at second and third with one out. Piacentino roped a line drive to center and ended up with a triple as Cease and Bartels crossed the plate. Wood landed a single into center to drive home Piacentino. Spiegel followed with a double to left-center, barely missing a homer, to score Wood. The Nittany Lions led 5-1 after four innings.
Omaha took the lead with six runs in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Eduardo Rosario sent a single to left to drive in Mike Boeve before Satisky lined a two-run base knock up the middle to plate Hurdle and Drew Hmielewski. Two batters later, Jack Lombardi reached on an error with Satisky scoring on the play. Two more runs scored on a single by Denk to score Lombardi and Cam Frederick.
Penn State answered with a run in the bottom half. Tayven Kelley began the inning with a soft line drive to center and hustled to second for a double. Cease then singled through the hole on the right side of the infield to score Kelley. Omaha led 7-6 after five innings.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the seventh. With one out, Cease reached on an infield single. He moved up to second on a wild pitch and an error by the catcher allowed him to move up to third. Bartels then sent a line drive to center as Cease tagged and crossed the plate. The teams were even at 7-7 through seven innings.
Penn State re-took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Billy Gerlott hit a two-out single up the middle. He advanced to third after consecutive wild pitches. After Ben Kailher drew a walk, Kelley grounded a ball to third, which resulted in a wild throw and an error to score Gerlott for the go-ahead run.
The Nittany Lions continue the series with Omaha on Saturday at 6 p.m. It's Little League Day at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, including a pregame parade and postgame fireworks.
Sunday's contest is set for an 11 a.m. start on Paper Appreciation Day, inspired by "The Office" and featuring a special first pitch.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Derek Cease