UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A big day at the plate led the Penn State baseball team to a 16-8 win over Pitt on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions collected 21 hits and helped to close out the victory with five runs in the sixth and six runs in the eighth. Penn State moved to 13-8 on the season, while Pitt dropped to 11-11.
The Nittany Lions earned the mid-week victory in front of 1,076 fans, who consumed 1,737 hot dogs on Dollar Dog Night.
Ben DeMell got the start on the mound for the Nittany Lions, going 1.1 innings and allowing four runs on five hits. DeMell struck out one batter and walked three. Jordan Morales threw 2.2 shutout frames while striking out two.
Tommy Molsky picked up the win, going two innings and allowing one run (unearned) and recording one strikeout. Connor Throneberry gave up two runs in one inning before Ryan Partridge took over, going an inning and striking out two, while giving up one run (unearned). Steven Miller pitched the ninth inning, a scoreless frame, and struck out one.
Pitt starter Holden Phelps went two full innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits. Matthew Fernandez threw two shutout innings before Dylan Simmons took over and gave up five runs on five hits. Nash Bryan, Ethan Firoved, Quin Konuszewski, Brady Devereux and Zack Oswald combined to pitch the final 2.2 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Penn State finished the night with 16 runs on 21 hits. The Nittany Lions had eight players with multiple hits and three players each with three hits. Penn State had four players score multiple runs and four drive in multiple runs. Jay Harry recorded three hits, including an RBI double, and scored three runs. Billy Gerlott and Tayven Kelley both drove in three runs on three hits with Kelley adding a double. Grant Norris notched two hits, including a double, two runs and three RBI. Johnny Piacentino collected two hits and three runs, while driving in one run CJ Pittaro also had two hits and scored two runs.
Pitt tallied eight runs on nine hits. Johnny Long III registered three hits and two RBI. AJ Nessler drove in two runs, while Kyle Hess had two hits and an RBI.
Penn State jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first. After a walk by Thomas Bramley and a single by Harry, an infield single by Piacentino scored Bramley. A single to left by Josh Spiegel plated Harry. Two batters later, Gerlott drove a single to right to allow Piacentino to cross the plate. Penn State led 3-0.
Pitt answered with four runs in the second. Justin Acal started the inning with a single and moved up to second on an error. Long III roped a single to center to drive in Acal. Pitt loaded the bases before a single by Hess scored Long III. With the bases still loaded, Noah Martinez drew a walk to allow Tommy Tavarez to score. Two batters later, Nessler worked a walk to score Jack Anderson. Pitt held a 4-3 advantage through two innings.
Penn State re-gained the lead in the third. Spiegel struck out to start the inning, but the third strike was dropped and the throw to first sailed wide to move Spiegel up to second. Norris reached on a throwing error, which put Spiegel at third. Gerlott and Pittaro recorded back-to-back RBI singles to center to score Norris and Spiegel. The Nittany Lions held a 5-4 lead.
Pitt tied the game in the fifth. After a single by Nessler and Acal reached on an error, Long III grounded out, but allowed Nessler to score and even the contest.
Penn State exploded for five runs in the sixth. Harry began the inning with a double to the wall in right-center, followed by a Piacentino walk. Norris singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to drive in Harry. Gerlott did the same to drive in Piacentino. An infield single by Pittaro loaded the bases. Kelley ripped a single to center to plate Gerlott and Norris. Two batters later, Bramley lined a single to left to score Pittaro. The Nittany Lions led 10-5.
However, Pitt climbed back into the game in the eighth. Anderson and Hess drew walks to start the frame. A double to left by CJ Funk drove in Anderson. Nessler grounded out to second, but Hess scored on the play. Acal then reached on a throwing error as Funk scored. Pitt trimmed its deficit to 10-8.
The Nittany Lions responded with six runs in the bottom half. A walk by Pittaro was followed by a Kelley double to left to score Pittaro. After Kyle Hannon walked, Harry lined a single to right, which scored Kelley. A walk by Piacentino was followed by a single to center by pinch-hitter Bobby Marsh, which scored Hannon and Harry. Norris ripped a double to left to score the final two runs with Piacentino and Marsh crossing the plate.
Penn State welcomes Indiana this weekend for its Big Ten home-opening series. The series begins on Friday, March 31 with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
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.
Grant Norris (left) and Billy Gerlott (right)