CARY, N.C. – Johnny Piacentino and C.J. Pittaro combined for five RBI to lead Penn State to a 10-6 win over UMass in the series opener on Friday at Coleman Field. Penn State scored seven runs to break the game open in the fifth. The Nittany Lions improved to 4-8 on the season, while UMass dropped to 1-3-1.
Travis Luensmann started on the mound for the Nittany Lions. Luensmann threw 4.2 innings, giving up three runs, all unearned, on five hits. He struck out six and walked six. Tyler Shingledecker threw one pitch, a fly out, to end the fifth. Tanner Folds took over in the sixth, going one-third of an inning, giving up three runs on three walks and hit batter. Steven Miller finished the sixth and pitched 1.2 shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out two. Jaden Henline entered in the eighth, throwing a pair of shutout innings and striking out three.
Kevin Dow got the start for the Minutemen, going four innings and giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out six and walking two. Max LeBlanc entered after Dow faced one batter in the fifth. LeBlanc allowed six runs on two hits and four walks. Blake Bennett finished the fifth and game for UMass, going four scoreless innings and striking out five.
Piacentino went three-for-five with a double and two RBI to lead the Nittany Lions. Pittaro contributed three RBI, all coming on a bases-clearing double. Matt Wood had two hits, including a double, and two RBI, while Josh Spiegel had two hits, two runs and an RBI. Cole Bartels collected two hits and two runs. Penn State tallied 10 runs on 12 hits.
Aidan Wilde drove in three runs for UMass, while Mike Gervasi had two hits and scored two runs.
The Nittany Lions plated three runs in the third inning. Spiegel drove the first pitch of the inning into center field for a single. Two batters later, Bartels roped a single to left to put two runners on base. Wood followed with a line drive to the gap in right-center to bring home Spiegel. Billy Gerlott then drew a walk to load the bases for Jay Harry, who shot a grounder past the shortstop to allow Bartels to score. Piacentino then hit a grounder to the third baseman who tried to tag the base at third but was beaten to the bag by Gerlott as Wood crossed the plate. Penn State led 3-0 after three.
UMass tied the game in the top of the fifth. An error and a single put two runners on base. Back-to-back walks drawn by Dylan Judd and Nolan Tichy allowed Cole Hebble to score. Wilde dropped a single into left-center to bring in Gervasi and Judd to even the score.
Penn State broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. Harry and Piacentino started the inning with back-to-back singles. Anthony Steele drew a walk before Spiegel drew his own walk to score Harry. Pittaro then ripped a double to the gap in left-center to clear the bases, driving in Piacentino, Steele and Spiegel. Consecutive walks by Kyle Hannon and Bartels re-loaded the bases for Wood, who singled to right to score Pittaro. A bases-loaded walk by Gerlott plated Hannon. Two batters later, a ground out to the shortstop by Piacentino allowed Bartels to cross the plate. Penn State led 10-3 after five.
The Minutemen scored three in the sixth. With the bases loaded, walks drawn by Steve Luttazi and Judd scored Collin Shapiro and Drew DeMartino, respectively. Two batters later, a walk drawn by Wilde scored Gervasi. Penn State held a 10-6 lead after six.
The Nittany Lions continue the series against UMass on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Johnny Piacentino