WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Penn State baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games at Purdue on Saturday at Alexander Field, falling 9-8 in game one and 4-3 in game two.
The Nittany Lions are now 19-13 overall (2-7 Big Ten), while Purdue improved to 16-18 (7-5 Big Ten). PSU leaves the weekend with one win in the series after a 15-3 victory on Friday.
In game one, the Nittany Lions rallied from a 9-3 deficit to get within a run, 9-8, going into the ninth. Jay Harry collected three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI.
In game two, Penn State cut its deficit to one in the ninth. Bobby Marsh had an RBI double to put PSU within two and scored to make it a one-run game. Daniel Ouderkirk tossed 3.1 shutout innings to keep Penn State within striking distance.
The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, April 18 to host Youngstown State at 6 p.m. Every Tuesday home game is Dollar Dog Night.
Penn State welcomes Ohio State for a Big Ten series, beginning on Friday, April 21. Friday's game is Wear White night. Saturday's game, beginning at 2 p.m. is Sandlot Day, honoring the 30th anniversary of the movie, featuring a t-shirt giveaway. Sunday's game is slated for 1 p.m. on Little League Day.
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.
Game One
Steven Miller got the start for the Nittany Lions. He went 1.1 frames, allowing four runs on four hits. Miller struck out three batters and walked two. Jordan Morales threw 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on six hits. Morales recorded three strikeouts. Tommy Molsky threw the final three innings, allowing two hits and no runs. Molsky registered three strikeouts and two walks.
Jonathan Blackwell started for the Boilermakers. Blackwell gave up six runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings. He struck out six batters and walked one. Jackson Dannelly threw 1.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits. Aaron Suval pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Penn State tallied 12 hits. Jay Harry went three-for-five with two doubles, two runs and three RBI. Josh Spiegel added an RBI triple and a run. Thomas Bramley and Tayven Kelley each recorded two hits, including an RBI double, and a run.
Purdue also collected 12 hits. Connor Caskenette recorded two hits, including a homer, two runs and three RBI. Jake Parr notched two hits, including a homer, and three RBI. CJ Valdez added a two-run homer.
The Nittany Lions plated three runs in the top of the first. With one out, Harry landed a soft line drive in left. Spiegel shot a laser to right field, which got past the diving outfielder for a triple as Harry scored. Bramley followed with a double off the wall in right to drive in Spiegel. Bobby Marsh singled through the right side of the infield to bring home Bramley and extend Penn State's lead to 3-0.
The Boilermakers answered with four runs in the bottom half. Mike Bolton Jr. started the inning with an infield single. Bolton Jr. stole second and moved up to third on a sac bunt. After Jake Jarvis was hit by a pitch, Caskenette launched a fly ball over the wall in right to tie the game. Two batters later, Valdez hit a fly ball over the left-center fence for a solo homer. Purdue held a 4-3 lead through one.
Purdue added a run in the third. With one out, Paul Toetz ripped a fly ball off the wall in center for a double. Jo Stevens singled to left to put runners on the corners. Evan Albrecht placed a bunt down the first base side for a sac bunt as Toetz crossed the plate. Purdue led 5-3 after three innings.
The Boilermakers plated three runs in the fourth. With one out, Jarvis was hit by a pitch and Caskenette singled to left. Parr lifted a fly ball that carried over the left field wall for a three-run homer. Purdue extended its lead to 8-3.
Purdue added a run in the sixth. Jarvis was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Parr doubled to left-center to put runners on second and third. A single to left by Valdez brought home Jarvis. Purdue pushed its lead to 9-3.
Penn State responded with four runs in the seventh. Kelley sent a one-out single to left. Pinch-hitter Ben Kailher chopped a grounder over the third baseman to put runners on first and second. Kyle Hannon hit a sharp ground ball down the right line for an infield single to load the bases. After a pitching change, Harry ripped the first pitch he saw to the wall in right and cleared the bases with a double. Harry moved to third on a balk before Grant Norris hit a line drive to left, which was caught but allowed Harry to score on a sac fly. Penn State trimmed its deficit to 9-7.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the eighth. With one out, Marsh singled to right. Gerlott reached on a fielder's choice as Marsh was retired at second. Kelley crushed a double to the wall in left-center and Gerlott hustled home from first. Penn State trailed 9-8.
In the top of the ninth, Harry ripped a double to the right-center gap with one out. With two outs, Harry moved up to third. Spiegel sent a line drive to left, but it was caught to end the game.
Game Two
Travis Luensmann made his sixth start of the year for the Nittany Lions. Luensmann threw 4.2 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits. The junior struck out three batters and walked two. Daniel Ouderkirk held the Boilermakers scoreless through the final 3.1 frames. He allowed just two hits and struck out four. He retired the final four batters he faced.
Kyle Iwinski got the start for Purdue. Iwinski went eight innings, allowing one run (unearned) on six hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Aaron Suval pitched the ninth, allowing two runs on three hits.
Penn State notched nine hits. Tayven Kelley had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Bobby Marsh added an RBI double and a run. Grant Norris collected two hits and a run. Kyle Hannon recorded a hit and a run and stole two bases.
With his two steals, Hannon now has 23 on the season. He moved into sole possession of fifth in a season at Penn State. On the day, he passed Blake Lynd's 22 steals in 2009.
Purdue also recorded nine hits. Jake Parr went three-for-three with a double and a run. CJ Valdez contributed two hits and two RBI.
The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead. Hannon started the game with a single to right. Hannon stole second and moved up to third on an errant pickoff throw. Thomas Bramley shot a line drive to right field, which was caught, but allowed Hannon to score on the sac fly. Penn State held a 1-0 lead.
Purdue answered with a run in the bottom half of the first. Mike Bolton Jr. worked a walk and stole second. A ground out moved Bolton Jr. to third. A single up the middle by Connor Caskenette brought home Bolton Jr. to even the game at 1-1.
The Boilermakers added a run in the second. Paul Toetz started the inning with an infield single. Jo Stevens was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third. A ground out to the right side by Bolton Jr. allowed Toetz to score. Purdue took a 2-1 lead into the third.
Purdue plated two runs in the third. With one out, Caskenette was hit by a pitch. Parr doubled to the wall in left to put runners on second and third. A single up the middle by Valdez brought home both runners to extend Purdue's lead to 4-1.
The Nittany Lions rallied in the ninth. Norris started the inning with a ground ball up the middle for a single. Marsh lined a double to the gap in left-center to bring home Norris. The inning continued as Spiegel singled to left-center to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, Kelley chopped a grounder to the right side, which resulted in a ground out but allowed Marsh to score and pinch-runner Brenden Franks to move to second. Anthony Steele worked a walk to put runners on first and second. However, a strikeout ended the game with a 4-3 score.
Jay Harry