UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team exploded for 10 runs in the fourth on its way to 15-3 win over Ohio State to clinch the series sweep on Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions got over six shutout innings in relief. Penn State moved to 23-13 overall with its fourth-straight win.
Penn State is now 5-7 in Big Ten play. Ohio State dropped to 20-20 overall and 3-12 in conference action.
The Nittany Lions picked up their first Big Ten sweep of the season. Penn State's last Big Ten sweep came against Michigan State on May 8-9, 2022. Penn State outscored the Buckeyes, 32-8, in the series.
The Nittany Lions scored 10 runs in the fourth, while only recording two hits in the inning. Penn State scored double-digit runs in an inning for the second time this season, joining its 12-run sixth inning at Purdue on April 14.
Daniel Ouderkirk got the start for the Nittany Lions, going 2.2 innings. He allowed three runs on two hits and five walks, while striking out four. Jordan Morales settled everything down by finishing the third and tossing a scoreless fourth to pick up the win.
Ryan Partridge added two scoreless frames, giving up two hits and striking out two. Steven Miller threw a scoreless seventh and struck out one. Anthony Steele finished the game with two shutout innings and struck out three.
The Buckeyes started Jonah Jenkins, who went three innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits. He struck out three and walked one. Justin Eckhardt gave up three runs (all unearned) and walked two before Landon Beidelschies allowed three runs (also unearned) on two hits in an inning of work. Blayne Robinson, Jacob Gehring, Logan Jones and Cole Pauley combined to finish the game, giving up three runs (two earned) over four innings.
Penn State recorded nine hits, while adding six walks and three hit-by-pitches. Bobby Marsh launched a three-run homer and scored two runs. Thomas Bramley had two RBI singles and scored twice. Kyle Hannon added a triple, two RBI and two runs, while Tayven Kelley had a triple, an RBI and scored twice.
Ohio State had three runs on nine hits. Henry Kaczmar registered three hits and an RBI, while Trey Lipsey had two hits, including a triple, and scored a run.
Lipsey led off the third inning with a triple to right-center and scored on a wild pitch to get the Buckeyes on the board. The inning continued as Kade Kern and Marcus Ernst drew walks. The pair executed a double steal before a wild pitch allowed Kern to score. An infield single by Kaczmar drove in Ernst to give Ohio State a 3-0 lead.
Penn State answered with two runs in the bottom half. Josh Spiegel started the inning with a single to left. With two outs, Hannon ripped a line drive to the right field corner and hustled to third for a triple while Spiegel scored. Bramley drove in Hannon with a single to right. Penn State cut its deficit to 3-2.
The Nittany Lions exploded for 10 runs in the fourth. Johnny Piacentino reached on an error to start the inning. Marsh was hit by a pitch and Grant Norris walked to load the bases. Spiegel was hit by a pitch to bring home Piacentino. After a pitching change, Billy Gerlott drew a five-pitch walk to score Marsh. A ground ball by Kelley was misplayed by the shortstop, but allowed Spiegel and Norris to score, Kelley to move up to second and Gerlott to move to third.
Hannon drew a walk with the fourth ball bouncing to the backstop as Gerlott and Kelley both hustled home. Following a walk by Bramley, which moved Hannon up to third on another wild pitch, Jay Harry reached on a fielder's choice while Hannon scored. Two batters later, Marsh blasted a moonshot over the wall in right for a three-run jack to put the Nittany Lions ahead, 12-3.
Penn State added two runs in the fifth. Kelley started the inning with a triple to the nook in left-center. Hannon lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly to bring home Kelley. Bramley reached on an infield error before Harry singled to left to move Bramley to second. Piacentino drove a single through the left side to plate Bramley. Penn State held a 14-3 lead.
The blue and white scored another run in the sixth. With one out, Gerlott was hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a wild pitch. Bramley dropped a single into right to allow Gerlott to score from second. Penn State pushed its lead to 15-3.
The Nittany Lions travel to Morgantown on Tuesday, April 25 to take on West Virginia at 6:30 p.m.
Penn State return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to host Iowa in a Big Ten series, beginning on Friday, April 28. Friday's game is set for 5 p.m. on Big Ten Network, featuring post-game fireworks and a free cape giveaway for kids in honor of National Superhero Day. Saturday's game, begins at 2 p.m. and includes post-game autographs and a trading card giveaway. Sunday's game starts at 1 p.m. on Vs. Cancer Day and includes post-game kids run the bases.
Season and single game tickets for the 2023 Penn State baseball season are available here.
The 2023 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Bobby Marsh