MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Penn State baseball team rallied for four runs in the ninth to claim a 5-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday at Siebert Field. Nate Voss had a solo homer in the fourth and a go-ahead three-run double in the ninth. The Nittany Lions improved to 20-10 overall (8-6 in Big Ten), while Minnesota dropped to 11-16 on the season (2-9 Big Ten).
The Nittany Lions have won two Big Ten road series (at Northwestern, at Minnesota) in a season for the first time since 2012 (at Iowa, at Minnesota, at Michigan State).
Mason Horwat earned his seventh start of the year for Penn State, tossing a career-high 6.1 innings. He gave up two runs on five hits. Horwat registered four strikeouts and three walks. He forced two double plays.
Ben DeMell went 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out two to earn the win. Anthony Steele picked up his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning, including a strikeout.
Kyle Remington made the start for Minnesota, going three innings. He allowed just two hits and no runs. Remington recorded eight strikeouts and four walks. Noah Rooney worked four innings, giving up one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked two. Tyler Hemmesch and Seth Clausen combined to hold PSU scoreless in the eighth.
Penn State plated five runs on nine hits and eight walks. Nate Voss had two huge hits with a solo homer and a three-run double. Mike Lucarelli contributed an RBI single. Paxton Kling had two singles and a stolen base.
Voss’ pinch-hit homer in the fourth was PSU’s first pinch-hit home run since Billy Gerlott on April 24, 2022 at Minnesota.
With his 22nd steal of the season, Ryan Weingartner tied Blake Lynd (22; 2009) for sixth in a season at Penn State.
Minnesota tallied two runs on six hits. Jake Elbeery had a solo homer, while Drew Berkland had two hits, including an RBI single.
Penn State got on the board in the fourth. With one-out, Voss made a pinch-hit appearance. He sent an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center. His 394-foot blast put PSU ahead, 1-0.
The Gophers took the lead in the seventh. Leading off the inning, Elbeery lifted a 1-2 pitch over the wall in center for a solo homer. Jameson Martin lined a single to left before Josh Fitzgerald worked a walk. A single to left by Berkland drove in Martin to give the Gophers a 2-1 advantage.
In the top of the eighth, Jesse Jaconski was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on a passed ball. With Lucarelli at the plate, another passed ball allowed Jaconski to go to third. A line drive to left by Lucarelli, which would have scored Jaconski, was ruled foul. Lucarelli worked a walk before Ryan Weingartner was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, a strikeout ended the inning. Minnesota still led 2-1.
Penn State took the lead in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Cole Wagner lined a 3-2 pitch to right for a single. Jesse Jaconski reached on an error as pinch-runner Cohl Mercado raced to third. Joe Jaconski worked a walk to load the bases. Voss came up clutch, again, ripping a double to left to bring home all three runners. Pinch-runner Joey DeMucci moved up to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a single to right by Lucarelli. PSU held a 5-2 lead.
The Nittany Lions conclude the series against Minnesota on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.