MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A clutch pinch-hit, three-run homer by Billy Gerlott gave the Penn State baseball team a lead in the eighth and the Nittany Lions closed out a 6-5 win at Minnesota on Sunday at Siebert Field. The Nittany Lions won the series, also winning Saturday's game.
The Nittany Lions improved to 17-20 overall and 7-8 in Big Ten play, while Minnesota dropped to 11-26 overall and 2-10 in conference.
Penn State took the series against Minnesota, also winning 5-1 on Saturday. The Nittany Lions have won back-to-back Big Ten series after beating Purdue last weekend.
Steven Miller made his second start of the season for the Nittany Lions. Miller went 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Kellan Tulio took over with two outs in the third and threw 2.1 frames. Tulio allowed one run on three hits while striking out five. Mason Mellott came on to begin the sixth and threw four shutout innings to earn the win. Mellott allowed three hits and struck out one.
Aidan Maldonado got the start for Minnesota, going seven innings. Maldonado gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out six batters and walked four. Noah Rooney entered the game in the eighth, throwing two-thirds of an inning and allowing two runs. Josh Culliver threw one-third of a frame, allowing a run. Tom Skoro took over in the ninth, throwing a scoreless inning.
The Nittany Lions scored six runs on five hits, with the biggest hit of the day coming off the bat of Gerlott. In the eighth innings, Gerlott was tabbed to pinch hit and delivered a three-run, go-ahead homer. It was Penn State's first pinch hit homer since Shea Sbranti vs. Illinois on April 21, 2019.
Matt Wood contributed a double and two RBI. Jay Harry had a triple and scored a run, while Josh Spiegel added a double.
Minnesota tallied five runs on 12 hits. Kyle Bork went three-for-five, including a three-run homer. Brett Bateman had three hits and scored a run. Andrew Wilhite had a solo homer.
The Nittany Lions struck first with two runs in the first. With one out, Harry sent a 3-2 pitch down the right field line and into the corner as he raced to third for a triple. Wood followed with a fly ball to left, which bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double and scored Harry. Wood advanced to third on a balk and Anthony Steele reached on a walk before a ground ball by Johnny Piacentino was misplayed for an error, which allowed Wood to score.
Minnesota responded with four runs in the bottom half. Bateman started the inning with a single to center. Two batters later, a single to center by Jack Kelly scored Bateman. After a single by Brady Counsell, Bork hit a three-run homer to left-center. Minnesota led 4-2 after one.
The Golden Gophers added a run in the fourth. With one out, Wilhite lifted a fly ball to left that was carried by the wind over the wall for a solo homer. Minnesota extended its lead to 5-2.
Penn State scored a run in the top of the fifth. Cole Bartels drew a walk to start the inning and moved up to second on a wild pitch. A fly ball by Harry was caught at the wall in right to allow Bartels to move up to third. Wood then sent a fly ball to deep center for a sacrifice fly to drive in Bartels. Penn State cut the deficit to 5-3.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the top of the eighth. After back-to-back two-out walks by Ben Kailher and Tayven Kelley, Gerlott was called upon to pinch-hit. On a 3-2 pitch, Gerlott launched a fly ball over the wall in left-center for a three-run homer. Penn State led 6-5.
Penn State is set to play two mid-week games next week, beginning on Tuesday vs. Bucknell, a 6 p.m. first pitch with a livestream on B1G+.
The Nittany Lions visit West Virginia on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Penn State then hosts Omaha for a three-game series, beginning on Friday, April 29.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Billy Gerlott