MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Penn State baseball team dropped its series opener against Minnesota, 7-3, on Friday night at Siebert Field. Minnesota scored four runs in the fifth and maintained the lead.
Penn State is now 15-20 overall and 5-8 in Big Ten play. Minnesota improved to 11-24 overall and 2-8 in conference.
Jaden Henline made his fourth start of the year for the Nittany Lions. He went 4.2 innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits. Henline struck out two and walked two.
Jordan Morales finished the fifth and pitched the sixth and seventh innings. Morales gave up one run on two hits and struck out four. Chase Renner entered the game in the eighth, striking out two in a scoreless frame.
Sam Ireland got the start for Minnesota and went seven innings. Ireland gave up two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and four walks. Tom Skoro took over in the eighth, throwing the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits.
Penn State tallied three runs on six hits. Cole Bartels had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Matt Wood had an RBI triple in the first inning. Jay Harry and Ben Kailher each had an RBI.
Minnesota recorded seven runs on 11 hits. Andrew Wilhite went three-for-three, including a double, and scored two runs. Brett Bateman had two hits, with a double, and scored two runs.
The Gophers were helped by three errors by the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Bartels began the inning with a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, Wood roped a 2-2 pitch into the corner in right and raced to third for a triple. Bartels scored on the triple to give Penn State a lead.
Minnesota answered with a run in the bottom half. Bateman sent a line drive to left for a leadoff double. A single by Boston Merila put runners on the corners. Chase Stanke followed by bouncing into a double play, but Bateman crossed the plate. The game was tied 1-1 after the first.
The Golden Gophers added a run in the second. After two quick outs to start the inning, Brady Counsell reached on an error before a double down the line in right by Ronald Sweeny. Wilhite was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An error on a pickoff attempt at second allowed Counsell to score from third. Minnesota led 2-1 after two innings.
Penn State tied the game in the top of the fifth. C.J. Pittaro worked a leadoff walk. Bartels followed with a double to the gap in right-center to put runners at second and third. A fly ball by Harry carried to deep left for a sacrifice fly, which allowed Pittaro to score from third. The game was tied 2-2.
The Golden Gophers answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. With runners on first and second, an error on a pickoff allowed Wilhite to score. A double by Stanke to the wall in left drove in Bateman. Two batters later, a double by Kyle Bork scored Jack Kelly. A third double, this time by Counsell, plated Bork to extend Minnesota's lead to 6-2.
Minnesota added a run in the sixth. After a leadoff double by Wilhite, a sac bunt moved him up to third. On a wild pitch, Wilhite scored from third to put Minnesota ahead, 7-2.
Penn State scored a run in the top of the ninth. The inning started as Josh Spiegel reached on a dropped third strike. Anthony Steele followed with a single to left and a single by Piacentino loaded the bases. Two batters later, a grounder by Kailher drove Spiegel home from third to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Nittany Lions take on the Golden Gophers in game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET with a livestream on B1G+. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for noon ET
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
