MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Behind a dominant start by Travis Luensmann and a four-run eighth inning, the Penn State baseball team earned a 5-1 win at Minnesota on Saturday at Siebert Field.
Penn State improved to 16-20 overall and 6-8 in Big Ten play, while the Golden Gophers dropped to 11-25 overall and 2-9 in conference.
Luensmann started on the mound for the Nittany Lions. The Altoona native had another strong start, throwing six shutout innings. The sophomore gave up just three hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Luensmann has not allowed an earned run in his last 16.2 innings, dating back to his appearance at Maryland (4/2), including each of his last three appearances. Against Big Ten opponents this season, Luensmann has a 1.21 ERA and 23 strikeouts in five outings.
Tyler Shingledecker came on to begin the seventh and finished the game. Over the final three innings, Shingledecker gave up one run (unearned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked two while earning his fourth win of the season.
J.P. Massey got the start for Minnesota, going six innings. Massey allowed one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked three. Noah DeLuga took over in the seventh, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Will Semb also allowed two runs on four hits, while throwing one-third of an inning. Josh Culliver got the final out of the eighth and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Nittany Lions collected five runs on 12 hits. Matt Wood went three-for-five with a double and an RBI. Josh Spiegel had a pair of doubles. Billy Gerlott hit a solo homer, while Ben Kailher had two base knocks and scored a run. Derek Cease had an RBI single and scored a run.
Minnesota tallied one run on six hits. Brady Counsell had two hits, while Ronald Sweeny had a single and drove in a run. Jack Kelly singled and scored a run.
The Nittany Lions broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Gerlott lifted a 2-2 pitch towards left-center and it carried over the wall for a solo home run. Penn State led 1-0 after Gerlott's second homer of the season.
Minnesota tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. An error, a single and a walk setup the bases loaded with one out. Sweeny sent a grounder to first. Cole Bartels fielded it and stepped on first for an out, but Kelly beat Bartels' throw to the plate.
Penn State responded in the eighth with four runs. Johnny Piacentino and Kailher began the inning with singles. The runners moved up to second and third after an error on a throw after a lineout. Cease then sent a ground ball through the middle to score Piacentino. A sac fly by Bartels drove in Kailher. Jay Harry then singled to right before an RBI single to center by Wood, which plated Cease. Tayven Kelley followed with his own single, which scored Harry. Penn State held a 5-1 lead.
The Nittany Lions meet the Golden Gophers in Sunday's series finale, scheduled for noon ET with a livestream on B1G+.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Travis Luensmann