CARY, N.C. – The Penn State offense produced 18 hits in a 14-2 win over Monmouth Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, giving the Nittany Lions a 3-1 start to the 2020 season.
The 18 hits were the most in a game by the Nittany Lions since also totaling 18 against Rutgers on May 2, 2015. Second baseman Gavin Homer went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs, three runs and a walk and freshman designated hitter Matt Wood went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while infielder Parker Hendershot, left fielder Ryan Ford and catcher Jacob Padilla each tallied two hits and two RBIs apiece.
The Nittany Lions were also strong on the mound, as RHP Conor Larkin (1-0) went 5.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He struck out six and allowed just four hits, two walks and an unearned run to Monmouth (2-2).
Ford drove in Bartels with a sacrifice fly for the first run of the day in the first inning, and then the Lions added four runs in the fourth on an RBI-double by Padilla and RBI singles by Homer, Wood and Ford. Penn State added two runs in the fifth inning for a 7-1 lead and scored five more in the sixth as Padilla drove in one with a sacrifice fly, Homer plated two with a double, and then Hendershot drove in Homer with a base hit and later scored from second on a wild pitch.
Monmouth scored in the top of the seventh, but Hendershot drove in another run in the eighth and freshman Johnny Piacentino hit an RBI-double in his first career at-bat for the final margin.
Penn State returns to Cary next weekend to play Wagner in a three-game series starting Friday at 2 p.m. and continuing Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
The complete 2020 baseball schedule is available at GoPSUsports.com. Ticket, promotional and broadcast information will be announced at a future date. The 2020 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
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Notes: Penn State's 14 runs were its most since scoring 16 against Youngstown State on Apr. 9, 2019 … In addition to Piacentino, freshman Brenden Franks also tallied his first career hit in his first career at-bat … Carson Ertter and Braden Halladay also made they collegiate debuts.
