UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team closed out its weekend home series against Georgetown with a 7-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Solid pitching and a strong day at the plate by the top and bottom of the lineup helped the Nittany Lions to move to 11-5 on the season.
Jordan Morales got his second start for the Nittany Lions, getting the win and putting on a solid and effective opening performance on the mound in three innings. He recorded two strikeouts and allowed no runs on three hits.
Steven Miller followed Morales with three strong innings of his own. Miller gave up one run (unearned) on three hits and struck out three. Jaden Henline closed out the game, allowing one run over three innings and striking out five, to earn the save.
Kyle Hannon made stellar defensive plays at second base in the first two innings of play to keep the Hoyas scoreless, with a sliding stop on a grounder in the top of the first inning, and a quick glove flip to first base in the top of the second. Billy Gerlott added a sliding catch in right field in the eighth.
Jake Bloss made the start for Georgetown, allowing five runs and six hits in 3.2 innings. Bloss struck out one batter and walked four. Jordan Yoder, Everett Catlett and Garett Keough combined to hold the Nittany Lions scoreless through 3.1 combined innings. Tyler Mead took the mound in the eighth, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit.
The Penn State offense tallied nine hits, including four doubles. Penn State drew eight walks, while only striking out six times. Jay Harry recorded two hits, including a double, three RBI and a run. Ben Kailher added two hits, with a double, two runs and an RBI. Bobby Marsh collected two hits, including a double, while Tayven Kelley scored two runs. Thomas Bramley had an RBI single and scored a run.
Georgetown recorded eight hits. Jake Hyde registered an RBI double, while Owen Carapellotti and Christian Ficca each had two hits.
Penn State struck early with four runs in the second. After back-to-back two-out walks by Anthony Steele and Kelley, Kailher sent a single to left to drive home Steele. A single to right by Bramley brought home Kelley. After Bramley moved up to second on a wild pitch, Harry ripped a double to the corner in right to plate Kailher and Bramley. The Nittany Lions led 4-0 through two innings.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fourth. Kelley worked a leadoff, four-pitch walk. He moved up to second on a sac bunt and to third on a groundout. Harry came through with another run-producing hit as he singled to left to drive in Kelley and extend Penn State's lead to 5-0.
Georgetown got a run back in the sixth. With one out, Michael Eze dropped a bunt down the first base line for a single. Two batters later, Austin Kretzschmar singled to left as Eze moved up to third. A ground ball by Angelo D'Acunto was misplayed at third, allowing Eze to score and cut the Hoyas' deficit to 5-1.
The Nittany Lions struck for two runs in the eighth. Kailher lined a one-out double to left. Two batters later, Harry reached on a fielder's choice, which resulted in runners on the corners. Harry stole second before a wild pitch allowed Kailher to score and Harry to reach third. A grounder by Johnny Piacentino resulted in an error, which allowed Harry to cross the plate. Penn State held a 7-1 advantage.
Georgetown added a run in the ninth. D'Acunto drew a walk to start the inning. He was replaced by Jordan Kahn as a pinch runner. Kahn moved up to second on a groundout. A fly ball by Hyde landed in left-center and scored Kahn from second. The Hoyas trimmed Penn State's lead to 7-2.
The Nittany Lions host Binghamton on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. first pitch. It's Dollar Dog Night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with $1 hot dogs.
Penn State opens Big Ten play next weekend, March 24-26, at Michigan.
Season and single game tickets for the 2023 Penn State baseball season are available here. Season tickets are $75 for adults and free for youth (ages 12 and under).
The 2023 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Jordan Morales