UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned its second win of the weekend over Ohio State, 7-2, on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions pushed five runs across in the seventh to re-take the lead. Penn State improved to 22-13 overall.
The Nittany Lions are now 4-7 in Big Ten play. Ohio State dropped to 20-19 overall and 3-11 in conference action. Penn State earned its first series win over the Buckeyes since 2012.
Jordan Morales started on the bump for the fifth time this season. He threw three perfect innings, allowing no hits or runs. He recorded three strikeouts, all of which came while he struck out the side in the third inning.
Travis Luensmann came on to begin the fourth and threw five innings on the mound to pick up his sixth win of the season. He recorded five strikeouts and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. Steven Miller closed the game for the Lions, pitching a full shutout inning and striking out one.
The Penn State pitching staff held Ohio State to two hits, a season best. The two hits allowed are the least given up against a Big Ten opponent since May 26, 2022 against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament.
Isaiah Coupet made the start for Ohio State. He tossed five innings. He recorded five strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits. Nolan Clegg threw 1.2 in relief, recording two strikeouts and was responsible for two runs. Jaylen Jones, Will Pfenning, and Josh Timmerman would combine to finish the game with Jones allowing three runs.
The Nittany Lions registered nine hits. Thomas Bramley led the way with two hits, including a double, two runs and two RBI. Bobby Marsh contributed two hits, including a double, two RBI and a run, while Johnny Piacentino doubled among his two hits and recorded an RBI.
Ohio State's two hits came from the bats of Kade Kern and Nick Erwin. Trey Lipsey and Tyler Pettorini contributed an RBI each.
The Nittany Lions took an early lead in the bottom of the second. Thomas Bramley opened the inning by lining a double deep into the right field corner, bouncing off the wall. Marsh drove a double off the wall in left to plate Bramley. Tayven Kelley lined a single to left-center to bring home Marsh. Penn State held a 2-0 lead.
Ohio State trimmed its deficit in half in the fifth inning. Erwin bounced a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Henry Kaczmar and Josh McAlister drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Lipsey was hit by a 3-2 pitch, allowing Erwin to touch home. A fly out to center, snagged by Piacentino, limited the damage. Penn State led 2-1.
The Buckeyes tied the game in the sixth. A grounder by Graveline resulted in an error as the catcher raced to third. Pettorini chopped a ground ball to second for an out, but allowed Graveline to score. The game was even at 2-2.
The Nittany Lions broke the game open with five runs, all with two outs, in the seventh. Gerlott sparked the rally with a walk. Kyle Hannon dropped a single into left to put two runners on. Jay Harry worked a walk to load the bases. A patient Spiegel held off on a 3-1 pitch to earn a walk as Gerlott crossed the plate. Bramley ripped a single through the right side to plate Hannon and Harry. Piacentino lined a single to center to bring home Spiegel. With runners on first and second, Marsh flared a single to left to drive in Bramley. Penn State took a 7-2 lead.
In the top of the ninth, with the bases loaded, two outs, and a 3-2 count, Hank Thomas popped a ball out to right field. As the ball looked to drop into the Penn State bullpen as a foul ball, Gerlott made an outstanding dive over the wall and flipped forward with the ball secured safely in his mitt, to seal the win.
The series finishes on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday is Little League Day and features postgame kids run the bases. Sunday will also include post-game autographs and a trading card giveaway.
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.
Travis Luensmann