COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State baseball team took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but Maryland found some late offense to earn an 8-4 win on Friday night in Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
The Nittany Lions are now 9-14 on the year and 1-3 in Big Ten play. Maryland, ranked 25th in the Baseball America poll, improved to 21-5 overall and won its Big Ten opener.
Jaden Henline made his first start of the season, going five innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out four and walking five. Henline threw scoreless frames in the first and fifth innings.
Tyler Shingledecker took over on the mound in the sixth, going 1.1 innings with all four outs coming on strikeouts. Shingledecker allowed one run on a hit and a walk. Mason Mellott finished the game for the Nittany Lions, going 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out three.
Nick Dean got the start for Maryland, pitching six innings. Dean gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out six batters and walked one. Noah Mrotek entered the game in the seventh, throwing the final three innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits and striking out two.
The Nittany Lions scored four runs on seven hits. Matt Wood had another solid day at the plate, going two-for-four with an RBI single. Jay Harry added a pair of hits and a run, while Johnny Piacentino had a triple and a run.
Maryland tallied eight runs on 10 hits. Chris Alleyne had a three-run homer and scored two runs. Bobby Zmarzlak contributed a two-run homer. Luke Shliger collected three hits and two runs at the top of the lineup.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the top of the second. Harry began the inning reaching on an error on a dropped catch by the Maryland first baseman. With Cole Bartels at the plate, Harry took off for second. A wild throw by the Terps' catcher sailed into center field, allowing Harry to break for third. Another errant throw by Maryland went out of play, allowing Harry to cross the plate and give Penn State a 1-0 lead.
Maryland responded with a run in the bottom half. A walk drawn by Maxwell Costes and a double by Troy Schreffler put runners on second and third. A well-placed sac bunt down the first base line by Zmarzlak allowed Costes to score. The game was tied 1-1 after two innings.
The Terrapins took the lead in the third inning. Nick Lorusso worked a one-out walk and reached second on a wild pitch with Matt Shaw at the plate. Shaw then dribbled a ground ball through the middle as Lorusso scored from second. Maryland led 2-1 after three.
Maryland added a run in the fourth on a solo homer to left-center by Zmarzlak. The Terps led 3-1 through four innings.
The Nittany Lions plated two runs to tie the game in the top of the sixth. With one out, Piacentino sent a line drive past the rightfielder into the corner and strolled into third with a triple. Wood followed, dropping a line drive into left-center to plate Piacentino. With Harry at the plate, Wood stole second and then moved to third on an infield single by Harry. Josh Spiegel then sent a fly ball to right to score Wood from third. The game was tied 3-3 going into the seventh.
Penn State gained the lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Billy Gerlott, which scored Ben Kailher from third. Kailher began the inning with a walk and reached third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. The Nittany Lions led 4-3.
Maryland re-took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Lorusso sent a grounder through the left side of the infield to score Shliger from third. Two batters later, Costes singled to left to drive in Alleyne. Maryland led 5-4 after seven.
The Terrapins added three runs in the eighth as a fly ball to center by Alleyne hit the top of the fence and bounced over the wall for a home run. Penn State trailed 8-4 after eight.
The Nittany Lions continue the series with the Terrapins on Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Matt Wood