PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped a 15-1 decision against Pitt on Tuesday evening at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ryan Weingartner launched a solo homer and, with a steal in the first inning, broke the Penn State season steals record.
Penn State dropped to 29-21 overall, while Pitt improved to 27-23.
Pittsburgh native Mason Horwat got the start for the Nittany Lions, going two innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) on four hits. He recorded one strikeout and one walk. Matthew VanOstenbridge fired two perfect frames and struck out one.
Harrison Lollin allowed four runs on three hits and a walk. Dimond Loosli worked one inning, giving up one run on two hits and notching two strikeouts. Will Andrews threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs. Connor Throneberry went one-third of an inning, giving up one run.
Drew Lafferty started on the mound for the Panthers, throwing a complete game. He allowed one run on seven hits. Lafferty recorded six strikeouts and one walk.
Penn State recorded one run on seven hits. Ryan Weingartner collected a solo homer, a stolen base and a walk. Paxton Kling registered a double.
On a steal in the first, Ryan Weingartner set a new program season steals record. His 28th steal of the season broke a tie with Michael Campo (27; 1999) and Kyle Hannon (27; 2023).
Weingartner also drew his 39th walk of the season, moving into a tie for sixth at Penn State with Shawn Fagan (39; 2000) and Landon Nakata (39; 2008).
With Weingartner’s homer in the third, Penn State has five players with 10+ homers in a season (Bryce Molinaro, 13; Paxton Kling, 12; Jesse Jaconski, 11; Jack Porter, 10; Weingartner, 10) for the first time in program history.
The Panthers plated 15 runs on 13 hits. Lorenzo Carrier had a three-run homer, while Sebastian Pisacreta added three hits, including a double, three RBI and two runs. Caden Dulin contributed three hits, including a double, two RBI and two runs. Ryan Zuckerman had two hits, two RBI and two runs.
In the top of the second, Nate Voss reached on an error. Two batters later, Joey DeMucci singled through the middle to put runners on first and second. However, a fielder’s choice ended the inning.
Pitt plated five runs in the bottom of the second, helped by multiple errors. Zuckerman’s leadoff single to center was misplayed to allow Zuckerman to end up at third. AJ Nessler worked a walk to put runners on the corners before Pisacreta singled through the middle to bring in Zuckerman. A grounder by Carrier was mishandled for an error to load the bases. Jayden Melendez lined a single to right-center to drive in Nessler. Jake Kendro bounced into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Carrier out at third and Pisacreta crossing the plate. Two batters later, Dulin’s single to right was misplayed to allow Melendez and Kendro to score. Pitt led 5-0.
Penn State got a run back in the third. Leading off the inning, Weingartner blasted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left. Weingartner’s solo homer trimmed PSU’s deficit to 5-1.
The Panthers added five runs in the fifth. David Pedanou led off with a single to right. Dulin followed with a double to left. Luke Cantwell worked a walk to load the bases. Zuckerman’s single to right brought in Pedanou and Dulin. After a pitching change, Nessler shot a single to left to drive in Cantwell. A fly ball to the corner in right by Pisacreta bounced over the wall in foul territory for a ground-rule double to bring in Zuckerman. Jayden Melendez lifted a sac fly to right to plate Nessler. Pitt held a 10-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Jesse Jaconski led off the frame with a single to left. Two batters later, Voss sent a single to left to put runners on first and second. However, a lineout-double play ended the frame.
Pitt scored five runs in the sixth. After Pedanou started the inning with a single and a steal, he scored on a single by Dulin. After Nessler was hit by a pitch, Pisacreta lined a single to left to bring in Dulin. Carrier lifted a fly ball over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer. The Panthers led 15-1.
Penn State finishes the regular season with a three-game series against Xavier, beginning on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s game, at 6 p.m., will be played at FNB Field in Harrisburg. Saturday’s Senior Day game will start at 1 p.m.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.