ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Penn State baseball team fell 13-4 against Michigan on Friday at Ray Fisher Stadium. The Nittany Lions held an early 2-0 lead, but Michigan rallied for eight runs in the fourth to take the lead. Penn State is 12-6 overall, while Michigan moved to 10-11.
Daniel Ouderkirk took the mound for his sixth start of the season. Ouderkirk threw three innings, and to six batters in the sixth, and was responsible for seven runs on six hits. He struck out two batters and walked three.
Jordan Morales finished the fourth, giving up two runs on two hits. Connor Throneberry started the fifth and went two innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out two. Carson Kohls pitched one frame, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out one. Chad Rogers threw a scoreless ninth inning and recorded one strikeout.
Connor O'Halloran got the start for Michigan, going eight innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits. O'Halloran struck out seven batters and walked two. Cam Hart entered in the ninth and threw a scoreless inning.
Penn State registered eight hits. Jay Harry and Johnny Piacentino each hit a solo homer. Harry added a single and a run. Thomas Bramley collected two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Kyle Hannon had a double and scored a run.
Michigan recorded 16 hits. Cody Jefferis tallied three hits, all doubles, scored three runs and drove in one run. Joe Longo had two hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Ted Burton collected two hits, including a double, and three RBI, while Joey Velazquez had two hits, including a homer. Jonathan Kim collected three hits, three runs and two RBI.
Penn State got on the board in the first. With two outs, Harry launched a 1-0 pitch to right, which hit off the scoreboard for a solo homer. Harry's fourth homer of the year gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the third, again with a two-out homer. This time, Piacentino launched a fly ball on a 3-2 pitch, which carried over the wall in right for an opposite-field solo homer. Penn State extended its lead to 2-0.
Michigan answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Jefferis dropped a fly ball in right field, just inside the foul line, for a double. Two batters later, Burton send a single to center, which allowed Jefferis to score. Penn State's lead was trimmed to 2-1.
The Wolverines plated eight runs in the fourth. Velazquez started the inning with a homer to right. Michigan loaded the bases before a single by Jonathan Kim drove in Jake Marti. Jefferis drew a walk to allow Gabe Sotres to score. A sac fly by Tito Flores plated Mitch Voit. A double to left by Burton scored Kim from second before Jefferis scored on a wild pitch. Longo launched a two-run homer to left to extend Michigan's lead to 9-2.
Michigan added two runs in the fifth. With one out, Voit lined a double to center. Kim followed with a single to right to score Voit. A double to right, down the line, by Jefferis pushed runners to second and third. A sac fly to right by Flores allowed Kim to score. Michigan led 11-2 through five.
The Wolverines scored two runs in the seventh. With one out, Burton lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly to score Kim. Longo followed with a single to left to drive in Jefferis. Michigan pushed its lead to 13-2.
Penn State drove in two runs in the eighth. Kyle Hannon started the inning with a double to left. Two batters later, Harry singled to right to put runners on the corners. Gerlott worked a walk with the last pitch resulting in a wild pitch to let Hannon score. Thomas Bramley ripped a double to the wall in right-center to plate Harry. Penn State trailed 13-4 through eight innings.
The Nittany Lions continue their series against the Wolverines on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. All games of the series will be broadcast on B1G+.
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.
Jay Harry