UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 7-4 against Illinois on Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions tied the game in the seventh, but Illinois rallied for three runs in the ninth.
Penn State finishes the regular season with a 25-27 record, including 11-13 in the Big Ten, heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Illinois improved to 31-20 overall and 17-7 in conference action.
After the game, Penn State honored seniors Hutch Gagnon and Tyler Shingledecker, senior manager Will Kahn and graduate students Cole Bartels and Mason Mellott on Senior Day, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association.
Jordan Morales made his first start as a Nittany Lion and his 25th appearance of the season. Morales tossed three shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. Morales struck out three batters. Morales earned his fifth outing without allowing an earned run against a Big Ten opponent this season.
Tommy Molsky entered to begin the fourth inning, going two innings. He allowed four runs on five hits. He struck out two and walked two. Steven Miller threw 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Carson Kohls got the final out of the eighth.
Ryan Kutt got the start for Illinois, throwing five innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits and three walks. Kutt struck out four batters. Jack Wenninger took over after one batter in the sixth and went two innings, allowing one run. Ty Rybarczyk threw a scoreless seventh inning before Alex Vera took over in the eighth, walking the only batter he faced. Joseph Glassey earned the save with a scoreless inning.
Penn State recorded four runs on nine hits. Josh Spiegel and Matt Wood each hit solo homers. Spiegel launched his 10th of the season, while Wood had his team-leading 11th. Cole Bartels had two hits, while Johnny Piacentino had an RBI triple.
Illinois also had nine hits. Cam McDonald hit a two-run homer, while Branden Comia had two hits, including a double, and three RBI.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the third inning on a solo homer by Wood. With one out, Wood lifted a 1-0 pitch that sailed over the wall in right for his 11th dinger of the year. Penn State held a 1-0 lead.
Illinois responded with two runs in the top of the fourth. Justin Janas led off the inning with a single to left. Two batters later, McDonald sent the first pitch he saw over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Illinois took a 2-1 lead.
Penn State tied the game in the bottom half. Kyle Hannon worked a one-out walk and stole second. After a walk by Billy Gerlott, a ground ball to shortstop by Derek Cease resulted in a fielder's choice, but an errant throw on the play allowed Hannon to slide into home. The game was tied at 2-2 through four innings.
The Fighting Illini answered with a run in the top of the fifth. Cal Hezja started the inning with a ground ball single to left. He moved up to second on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI single to center by Danny Doligale. Illinois led 3-2.
The Nittany Lions re-tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Spiegel blasted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center for his 10th homer of the season. Penn State knotted the game at 3-3.
Illinois scored a run in the sixth. Taylor Jackson was hit by a pitch and Brody Harding drew a walk to begin the frame. A sac bunt moved the runners to second and third. After Doligale was intentionally walked to load the bases, a groundout to second by Comia allowed Jackson to score and give Illinois a 4-3 advantage.
Penn State tied the game in the seventh. Anthony Steele took a 3-2 pitch for a two-out walk. Steele moved up to second on a wild pitch. Pinch-runner Brendan Franks entered the game for Steele and came around to score as Piacentino drove a fly ball off the wall in center for a triple. The game was even at 4-4.
Illinois broke the tie with three runs in the top of the ninth. With one out, Ryan Hampe and Jackson reached on back-to-back singles. A walk by Harding loaded the bases. Hejza sent a fly ball to center for a sac fly, scoring pinch-runner Andrew Kim. Two batters later, Comia singled up the middle to drive in Jackson and Harding. Illinois took a 7-4 lead.
The Nittany Lions travel to Omaha for the Big Ten Tournament, beginning on Wednesday. Penn State's first round seed, opponent and game time are to be determined.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Mason Mellott, Will Kahn, Tyler Shingledecker, Hutch Gagnon, Cole Bartels