UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fought for a 10-9 win in 11 innings to complete a sweep over Michigan State on Monday. The Nittany Lions rallied to tie the game in the ninth, answered MSU's run in the 10th and walked it off on a bases-loaded walk in the 11th.
Penn State improved to 23-21 overall and 10-8 in Big Ten play, moving into a tie with Michigan for fifth in the conference standings. Michigan State dropped to 21-24 overall and 6-12 in conference action.
The Nittany Lions have won three-straight Big Ten series and swept its first Big Ten series since sweeping Michigan State on April 30-May 2, 2021.
In the 11th, Jay Harry reached on a one-out single up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Matt Wood was intentionally walked, Josh Spiegel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, Johnny Piacentino drew a walk to score Hannon and give Penn State the 10-9 win.
Travis Luensmann made his 10th start of the season for the Nittany Lions. He went 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. Luensmann struck out three and walked one batter. Kellan Tulio allowed three runs on three hits over 2.1 innings. Tulio worked three strikeouts and two walks. Mason Mellott took over in the seventh, throwing four innings. Mellott allowed one run (unearned) on one hit. He struck out two batters and did not walk any. Jordan Morales threw two-thirds of an inning, in the Top 11th, getting two strikeouts. Steven Miller got the final out of the 11th and picked up the victory.
Harrison Cook got the start for Michigan State, throwing 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits. Cook recorded three strikeouts and no walks. Kyle Bischoff finished the fourth inning and went five total frames. He gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits. Andrew Carson gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning before Ryan Szczepaniak took over to finish the 10th. He threw a total of an inning, allowing a run, a hit and two walks.
Penn State tallied 10 runs on 19 hits. Jay Harry collected a career-best six hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Billy Gerlott had three hits, including a clutch homer in the ninth, and three RBI. Kyle Hannon and Josh Spiegel each had two hits and an RBI, while Matt Wood had a hit and an RBI, while drawing three walks.
Harry's six hits are a program record. Fourteen previous Nittany Lions had five hits in a game, most recently Piacentino against Michigan State on May 1, 2021.
Michigan State had nine runs on 12 hits. Mitch Jebb had four hits, including a double, two runs and three RBI. Casey Mayes had two hits, including a homer, and two RBI. Dillon Kark had two hits and two runs. Jack Frank had a triple and drove in two runs.
The Spartans got on the board in the top of the first. Jebb led off the inning with a single to center. Jebb moved up to second on a sac bunt. Two batters later, Mayes sent a single to center to bring home Jebb.
The Nittany Lions answered with two runs in the bottom half. With two outs, Wood sent the first pitch of his at-bat into right field for a single. Spiegel followed with a single to center to put runners on first and second. Piacentino was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gerlott then sent a line drive back up the middle to plate Wood and Spiegel and give Penn State a 2-1 lead through the first.
Michigan State scored two runs in the second. With one out and the bases loaded, Jebb sent a single to left field to bring home Brock Vradenburg and Kark. Michigan State took a 3-2 lead.
The Spartans added three runs in the fourth. With a runner on second and two outs, Jebb doubled to left to score Kark. Two batters later, Frank hit a line drive off the wall in left for a triple to plate Jebb and Trent Farquhar. Michigan State held a 6-2 advantage.
Penn State responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Hannon began the inning with a single and reached second on an error. Two batters later, Bartels hit a line drive into left for a single to bring home Hannon. A single by Harry put runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Bartels to score and Harry to move up to second. After Wood was intentionally walked, Spiegel singled to right to plate Harry. Penn State cut its deficit to 6-5 through four innings.
Michigan State extended its lead with a two-run homer in the seventh. After a walk by Jack Frank, Mayes lifted a fly ball to right that carried over the wall. Michigan State held an 8-5 lead.
The Nittany Lions scored in the eighth. With one out, Harry lined a double off the wall in right. After moving to third on a groundout, Harry scored on a passed ball. Penn State trailed 8-6 after eight innings.
Penn State tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Gerlott led off the inning by lifting the first pitch he saw over the wall in right. With two outs, Anthony Steele ripped a pinch-hit single through the middle. Bartels was hit by a pitch before Harry reached on a fielder's choice where everyone was safe. With the bases loaded, Wood worked a 3-2 count and took ball four to allow pinch-runner Ben Kailher to cross the plate. The game was tied 8-8 after the ninth.
Michigan State re-took the lead in the top of the 10th. Bryan Broecker singled to begin the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Kark reached on an error, a wild pitch and an error on the play allowed Broecker to score from second. The Spartans led 9-8.
Penn State re-tied the game in the bottom half. Piacentino was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hannon then sent a grounder up the middle to bring home Piacentino and even the game at 9-9.
The Nittany Lions travel to Bowie, Md. on Tuesday to take on Georgetown. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Bowie Baysox's Stadium.
Penn State heads to Columbus, Ohio for a three-game series with Ohio State next weekend, beginning on Friday, May 13.
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Jay Harry had a PSU-record six hits