PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team showed incredible resilience in a 19-6 victory over Pitt at PNC Park on Tuesday night. After Pitt scored five in the eighth to take a 6-5 lead, the Nittany Lions responded with 14 runs in the top of the ninth.
The Nittany Lions' 14 runs in the ninth inning included three-run homers from both Josh Spiegel and Kyle Hannon. Trailing 6-5, 18 hitters came to the plate in the frame and Pitt had to use five pitchers to tame the Nittany Lions in the ninth. Two three-run homers propelled the outburst, as Josh Spiegel gave the Nittany Lions the lead and Kyle Hannon followed three batters later with a blast of his own. Tayven Kelley added a bases-clearing, three-run triple.
The 14-run inning was Penn State's first inning with 10+ runs since scoring 10 in the first inning against Michigan State on May 1, 2021.
Kelley's triple was Penn State's 18th of the season, setting a new program record. The Nittany Lions hit 17 triples in 1986, 2007 and 2010. Kelley leads PSU with four triples this year.
Penn State improved to 25-24 overall, while Pitt dropped to 27-23.
Six Nittany Lions recorded multiple hits and four recorded multiple RBI in the contest as Penn State notched 16 hits. Matt Wood led the way with four runs scored out of the three-hole. The junior smacked a double and walked twice in the contest. Hannon led PSU with five RBI, while Spiegel recorded four. Derek Cease had three hits and two RBI, while Hannon and Spiegel each scored three runs. Hannon stole two bases.
Tommy Molsky made his 11th start of the season for the Nittany Lions and delivered four innings of shutout baseball, scattering two hits and striking out four. Jordan Morales came on in the fifth inning and completed 1.2 innings, allowing one run and striking out three. Steven Miller recorded the final out of the sixth. Chase Renner threw an inning, giving up two runs, before Kellan Tulio came on in relief and allowed three runs on two hits. Carson Kohls settled things down with two shutout innings, including four strikeouts, to earn the win.
Jonathan Bautista started on the mound for Pitt and tossed four innings, surrendering just one run and striking out six. Brady Devereux entered and threw two innings of scoreless relief. The Panthers used five additional bullpen arms to get through the next three-plus innings. Dylan Lester, Quin Konuszewski, Baron Stuart, Kyle Demi, and Ben Dragani combined for eight earned runs before the first out was recorded in the ninth inning. Ryan Miller, Tyler Kennedy, and Will Droll combined to get through the rest of the ninth, surrendering eight more earned runs.
Pitt had six runs on 10 hits. Jeffrey Wehler had two hits, including a double, and three RBI. Bryce Hulett tallied three hits and an RBI.
Penn State broke a scoreless game with a run in the top of the fourth. Wood led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. He advanced to third on a balk before crossing the plate on a passed ball. Penn State led 1-0 through four innings.
Pitt tied the game in the sixth. C.J. Funk began the inning with a walk. He moved up to second on a sac bunt and to third on a wild pitch. A single to center by Wehler scored Funk from third to even the game at 1-1.
The Nittany Lions responded with a run in the top of the seventh. Hannon drew a one-out walk and then stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Cease flared a single into left to drive in Hannon and give Penn State a 2-1 advantage.
Penn State extended its lead in the top of the eighth. Wood again reached base to lead off the inning, this time on a walk. A single by Spiegel put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Gerlott sent a double to the wall in center to bring home Wood. A sac fly to deep center by Hannon plated Spiegel. After a walk by Kelley, Cease ripped a single to right to drive in Spiegel. The Nittany Lions held a 5-1 lead.
However, the Panthers answered with five runs in the bottom half. Funk led off the inning with a walk before Brock Franks singled to left. Pinch-hitter Luke Lambert lined a double to right-center to score Funk. A double by Wehler followed as two runs scored. A sac fly by Ron Washington Jr. plated Wehler to tie the game. Pitt took the lead on a single to left by Hulett to plate Tatem Levins. Pitt led 6-5 after eight.
That's when Penn State's bats exploded for 14 runs in the ninth as the Nittany Lions batted around twice in the inning. Walks by Jay Harry and Wood started the inning. After a pitching change, Spiegel cleared the deck with a three-run shot over the North Side Notch, the deepest part of the ballpark. That gave Penn State an 8-6 lead.
Singles by Johnny Piacentino and Billy Gerlott preceded a cannonball by Hannon into the bushes beyond the center field wall. The blast put Penn State ahead, 11-6.
Kelley drew a walk and Bartels singled to put runners on first and second. Two wild pitches resulted in Kelley scoring. After Harry walked and Wood was hit by a pitch, Spiegel worked a walk for his fourth RBI of the inning as Bartels scored from third. A single up the middle by Piacentino plated Harry. Two batters later, Hannon worked a bases-loaded walk as Wood touched home.
On a 1-1 pitch, Kelley roped a line drive into the gap in right-center and raced to third as Spiegel and Hannon crossed the plate. The final run of the inning came on a wild pitch as Kelley scored to put Penn State up 19-6.
The Nittany Lions welcome Illinois for the final series of the regular season, a key Big Ten series. Thursday's game will begin at 5 p.m. on Big Ten Network, followed by Friday's game at 6 p.m. Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a Senior Day ceremony. Thursday is Throwback Thursday and Friday is Bark In The Park.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Josh Spiegel and Matt Wood