PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Redshirt sophomore Jack Porter launched two homers and drove in four runs to power the Penn State baseball team to an 11-7 win at Rutgers on Saturday evening at Bainton Field. The Nittany Lions plated seven runs in the second to break the game open and got key insurance runs on a two-run homer by Bryce Molinaro in the ninth. Penn State clinched the series against Rutgers and improved to 29-19 overall (15-14 Big Ten).
The Nittany Lions will go for the sweep on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Scarlet Knights (25-26 overall, 12-14 Big Ten).
Penn State picked up its eighth Big Ten road win of the season, its most since winning nine Big Ten road games in 2007. PSU has won eight or more Big Ten road games in four previous seasons (8 in 2005; 9 in 2004; 9 in 2007; 10 in 1996).
PSU has won five Big Ten series in a season for the first time since 2012 and won three Big Ten road series for the first time since 2012. The Nittany Lions’ 15 Big Ten wins are its most since 2012 (not counting the Big Ten-only schedule in 2021).
With Saturday’s win, Penn State has clinched a .500 or better record in Big Ten games in back-to-back seasons. PSU has earned a .500 or better record in Big Ten play in back-to-back seasons on five previous occasions (1995-96; 2000-01; 2003-04; 2007-08; 2011-12).
The Nittany Lions set a new program record with its 23rd game of 10+ runs this season (12th against a Big Ten opponent). The previous record was 22 double-digit run games in 2000.
Logan Olson made the start for the Nittany Lions, working three innings. He gave up three runs on three hits. Olson recorded four strikeouts and five walks.
Mason Horwat threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on three hits. Matthew VanOstenbridge fired 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit and recorded three strikeouts.
Matt Morash tossed two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth. Harrison Lollin fired a scoreless ninth.
Justin Shadek got the start for Rutgers, going 3.2 innings. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits. Shadek struck out two batters and walked one. Nolan Peel tossed 3.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out four. Dillon Ryan threw 1.2 innings, surrendering two runs.
Penn State posted 11 runs on 11 hits. Jack Porter launched two homers, among three hits, and drove in four runs. Bryce Molinaro added a two-run homer and an RBI single. Ryan Weingartner contributed two hits, two runs and an RBI. Matt Maloney added a two-run single.
With Porter’s two blasts, he reached the 10-homer mark for the season. Penn State has four players with 10+ homers in a season (Paxton Kling, 12; Molinaro, 12; Jesse Jaconski, 11; Porter, 10) for the first time since 1999 (Dan Beers, 13; Shawn Fagan, 13; Chris Netwall, 12; Eric Spadt, 10).
Rutgers plated seven runs on eight hits. Ty Doucette had two hits, including a solo homer, and scored twice. Peyton Bonds drove in two runs with two hits. Yomar Carreras had a hit and two RBI. Pablo Santos had two hits, including a double, and scored a run.
The Nittany Lions exploded for seven runs in the top of the second. Jesse Jaconski ripped a double to left to begin the frame. Joe Jaconski dropped a bunt along the first base line, which was bobbled to allow Joe to reach base. A walk by Nate Voss loaded the bases. Maloney smacked a single into left to bring in both Jaconski brothers. Derek Cease placed a sac bunt in front of the mound to move runners to second and third. Weingartner chopped a grounder to the left side and Voss beat the throw home. Paxton Kling crushed a ground-rule double to left-center to bring in Maloney. On the first pitch he saw, Porter launched a fly ball over the wall in center. Porter’s three-run homer gave Penn State a 7-0 lead.
Rutgers answered with a run in the bottom half. Santos led off the inning with a line drive down the right field line for a double. A fly out moved Santos to third. Two batters later, JT Thompson sent a line drive into left. Jesse Jaconski made a leaping grab for the second out of the inning, but the sac fly allowed Santos to score. PSU led 7-1.
The Scarlet Knights added a pair of runs in the third. Doucette lifted an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left to leadoff the inning. Trevor Cohen worked a five-pitch walk and moved up to second on a groundout. Carreras lined a single into left to drive in Cohen. Rutgers trimmed its deficit to 7-3.
Penn State responded with a run in the top of the fourth. With one out, Weingartner shot a grounder through the left side. Two batters later, Porter roped a single to left. Molinaro followed with a single through the right side to drive in Weingartner. PSU pushed its lead to 8-3.
The Scarlet Knights plated four in the fourth. With one out, Brennan Hyde and Doucette worked back-to-back walks. Cohen lined a double to right to bring in Hyde. Bonds followed with a single to right to drive in Doucette and Cohen. After a single by Santos, a groundout to the right side by Carreras allowed Bonds to cross the plate. PSU led 8-7.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the seventh. Porter launched an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left. His second homer of the night went 375 feet and put PSU ahead, 9-7.
Penn State plated two runs in the ninth. Porter was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Molinaro hammered a 2-1 pitch over the left-center fence. Molinaro’s 381-foot blast extended PSU’s lead to 11-7.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.