CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team fell 11-4 against UMass on Saturday at Coleman Field. The Nittany Lions committed six errors on defense, leading to six unearned runs. Penn State is now 4-9 on the season. UMass improved to 2-3-1.
Tommy Molsky made his fourth start of the season, tying a career high with six strikeouts in 3.2 innings. He gave up seven runs (two earned) on six hits and walked three. Jordan Morales entered to get the last out of the fourth and went 1.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three. Seneca Gregory threw 2.1 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out four and walked one. Ryan Partridge pitched the final 1.1 innings, not allowing a run and striking out two.
Jack Steele started for UMass, pitching five innings. He allowed five hits and a run while striking out four and walking two. Zack Given earned the save, throwing four innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
Penn State tallied four runs on 11 hits. Billy Gerlott, Jay Harry and Josh Spiegel each had two hits and an RBI. Gerlott's two hits included a double. Cole Bartels had an RBI single.
Mike Gervasi collected three hits, including a triple, and two RBI to lead UMass. Drew DeMartino contributed two hits, also with a triple, and two RBI. Dylan Judd added two hits and scored three runs.
The Minutemen scored in the top of the first. Collin Shapiro led off the inning with a walk and moved up to second on an error on a pickoff attempt. Gervasi sent a ground ball through the left side, allowing Shapiro to cross the plate.
UMass added two runs in the second. With two outs, a double down the line to left by Cole Hebble brought home Judd. After Shapiro reached on an error, Kevin Skagerlind hit a grounder through the middle, allowing Hebble to score.
The Minutemen scored three runs in the third. A two-out double by Nolan Tichy brought home Steve Luttazi. The next batter lined out, but a throw to double-off the runner at second went wild, allowing Judd to cross the plate. Hebble then reached on a fielding error, which allowed Tichy to score.
Penn State answered with a run in the bottom half. Tayven Kelley drew a one-out walk before a line-drive single to right by C.J. Pittaro. Two batters later, Bartels lined a ball into center to drive in Kelley. the inning continued as Matt Wood was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a flyout ended the frame. Penn State trailed 6-1 after three.
UMass added a run in the fourth. With two outs and two runners on, a single up the middle by Judd drove in Gervasi to give UMass a 7-1 lead.
The Minutemen scored one run in the sixth, on an RBI double by Gervasi that scored DiMartino. UMass added two runs in the seventh on an RBI double by DiMartino, which plated Hebble and Shapiro. A wild pitch in the eighth allowed Judd to score, giving UMass an 11-1 lead.
Penn State scored three runs in the ninth. The inning started with a pinch-hit walk by Ben Kailher and a pinch-hit single by Connor Throneberry. Two baters later, Gerlott doubled off the wall in right to score Kailher. A ground out by Harry at first base allowed Throneberry to cross the plate. Spiegel then singled up the middle to plate Gerlott.
The Nittany Lions conclude the series against UMass on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Billy Gerlott