COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mason Mellott's four innings of scoreless relief and 10 runs by the Penn State offense powered the Nittany Lions (9-18) to a 10-6 win over Ohio State Sunday.
The Nittany Lions took the series finale behind 14 hits and another solid outing from starter Kyle Virbitsky.
How it Happened
Virbitsky was dialed in from the opening pitch for the Nittany Lions. The junior righthander struck out six of the first 10 Buckeye hitters he faced.
Virbitsky would pitch with the lead after a three-run top of the third. Curtis Robison doubled to open the inning for the Nittany Lions. After a pair of strikeouts, senior Gavin Homer doubled to score Robison and put the Nittany Lions ahead 1-0.
Tayven Kelley blasted a two-run home run to right field, his first of the season, push the lead to 3-0 after three innings.
Ohio State came roaring back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on four hits in the inning. The Buckeyes had a two-run homer and a three-run blast in the inning to take the lead for the first time in the game.
In the top of the sixth, Matt Wood singled to lead off the inning. A strikeout followed by a groundout brought Josh Spiegel to the plate. Spiegel laced a double down the right field line to score Wood and cut the lead to 5-4.
Robison singled to put runners on the corners for Parker Hendershot. Hendershot also doubled to score Spiegel and Robison and give Penn State a 6-5 lead headed to the bottom of the frame.
A solo home run tied the game and ended Virbitsky's day. Mellott would enter the game and strike out the side to end the sixth.
A pair of singles in the top of the seventh by Homer and Wood brought Justin Williams to the dish. Williams laced a double to right center to score Homer and Wood to put the Nittany Lions back in front 8-6.
Mellott worked a scoreless seventh and eighth to send the game to the ninth.
Penn State scored two more runs on a single by Johnny Piacentino and push the lead to 10-6.
Mellott finished his outing with a fourth scoreless inning and the Nittany Lions took the series finale from Ohio State.
Up Next
Penn State returns home to face Michigan State next weekend in a three-game series.