UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell to Purdue, 11-5, in the second game of the weekend Big Ten series on Friday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions rallied, attempting to overcome a big first inning by Purdue, but could not erase the deficit.
Penn State dropped to 13-19 overall and 4-7 in Big Ten play, while Purdue improved to 22-8 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Kellan Tulio made his eighth start of the season for the Nittany Lions, going 2.2 innings with four strikeouts. The lefty gave up seven runs (two earned) off five hits and three walks.
In relief, the trio of Mason Mellott, Carson Kohls and Ryan Partridge combined to pitch the final 6.1 innings with five strikeouts. Mellott went 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, giving up two runs off three hits. Kohls entered the game after, pitching 2.1 innings of his own and struck out two batters while giving up two runs. Partridge got the final five outs in scoreless fashion and collected a strikeout.
Jackson Smeltz got the start for Purdue, going the first 6.1 innings of the game and racking up seven strikeouts. The junior gave up five runs (three earned) off seven hits and two walks. He was relieved by Eric Hildebrand, who closed out the final 2.2 innings of the game, giving up no runs or hits with five strikeouts.
The Penn State offense scored five runs off seven hit, led by Billy Gerlott and Matt Wood. Gerlott had a career-high three hits, including a double and a home run, while scoring twice. Wood drove in three runs, going two-for-two, blasting a home run to center. Cole Bartels had a hit and two runs.
Troy Viola and Curtis Washington each had two hits to lead the Boilermakers. Washington drove in a run and crossed the plate once, while Viola drove in two runs and scored twice. Pablo Lanzarote had a double and two RBI, while Evan Albrecht recorded a triple and two runs. Washington and Mike Bolton, Jr. each stole two bases.
Purdue struck first in the top of the first inning with five runs. With runners on the corners, an error allowed Washington to score from third. Two batters later, Viola doubled to right to plate Cam Thompson and CJ Valdez. A sac fly to right by Sam Franco plated Albrecht and a Lanzarote double to right, scoring Viola, extended the lead to 5-0.
Penn State quickly responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bartels began the inning with an infield single. Wood sent the ninth pitch he saw in his at-bat over the wall in center for a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. Penn State cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Boilermakers scored two runs in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Washington drew a walk to plate Viola from third. Paul Toetz followed with an infield single, which scored Lanzarote. Purdue led 7-2 after three.
Purdue added one run each in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Albrecht tripled to left center and then scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth, with runners on the corners, Washington took off for second and on the throw down, Bolton raced home for a run. The Boilermakers held a 9-2 lead.
Penn State got two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Gerlott started the inning with a double to the corner in left. Two batters later, Bartels drew a walk and a passed ball allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Wood sent a fly ball to left-center for a sac fly to score Gerlott. Bartels then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 9-4.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the seventh and had an opportunity for more. Gerlott sent a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center for a solo homer. Walks drawn by Derek Cease and Bartels and a hit-by-pitch by Wood loaded the bases with one out. However, a strikeout and a flyout to center ended the inning with Penn State trailing, 9-5.
Purdue plated two insurance runs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lanzarote drew a walk to score Valdez. Pinch-hitter Jake Parr was then hit by a pitch to score Thompson and push Purdue's lead to 11-5.
The Nittany Lions take on the Boilermakers in the series finale on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. with a livestream on B1G+.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Matt Wood