MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Penn State baseball team fell 14-2 at No. 18 West Virginia on Tuesday evening at Monongalia County Ballpark. The Mountaineers pulled away with eight runs in the fourth. The Nittany Lions dropped to 23-14 overall, while West Virginia improved to 30-11. The teams split the season series, each winning at home.
Tommy Molsky made the start for the Nittany Lions, tossing three full innings. He gave up four runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out two. Ryan Partridge allowed three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Connor Throneberry entered the game, giving up five runs on three hits and a walk. Carson Kohls finished the fourth and completed the fifth, allowing one run on three hits. Kellan Tulio went two innings, giving up a run and striking out two. Chad Rogers threw a scoreless ninth.
Carson Estridge started on the mound for West Virginia, going 3.2 innings. He allowed one run on two hits, while recording three strikeouts and a walk. Noah Short got the final out of the fourth. Gavin Van Kempen took the mound in the fifth, going two innings and giving up one run. Grant Siegel, Cole Fehrman and Carlson Reed combined for three shutout innings to finish the game.
Penn State recorded three hits. Bobby Marsh tallied his fifth homer of the year. Grant Norris notched an RBI double and Jay Harry singled and scored.
West Virginia registered 13 hits, including two grand slams. JJ Wetherholt collected a triple and a grand slam to drive in five RBI. Grant Hussey had two hits, including a grand slam. Logan Sauve added a solo homer, while Caleb McNeely had two hits and two RBI.
The Mountaineers got on the board in the third. Braden Barry started the inning with a single to right. Sam White followed with a single to left as Barry hustled to third. White moved up to second on a passed ball. The Mountaineers loaded the bases after Tevin Tucker drew a walk. On a 1-1 pitch, Wetherholt crushed a line drive that snuck over the wall, and just inside the foul pole, for a grand slam. West Virginia led 4-0 through three innings.
Penn State answered with a run in the top of the fourth. Harry led off with a. single to left. Norris roped a double off the wall in right as Harry scored from first. Two batters later, Josh Spiegel drove a fly ball to the wall in left, which was dropped for an error, but Norris was thrown out at home. A flyout ended the inning to keep the Nittany Lions trailing 4-1.
West Virginia exploded for eight runs in the bottom half. Hussey started the frame with a single to center. Barry laid down a perfect bunt for a single. Two batters later, Tucker drew a walk to load the bases. Wetherholt lifted a fly ball to left for a sac fly as Barry crossed the plate. The bases were re-loaded on a walk by Landon Wallace. McNeely lined a single to center to score White and Tucker. Dayne Leonard was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. Wallace scored on an infield single by Ellis Garcia. Hussey, up for a second time in the inning, launched a fly ball over the wall in center for a grand slam. Penn State trailed 12-1 through four.
WVU added a run in the fifth. With two outs, Wetherholt lined a triple to right-center. Wallace dropped a single into left to plate Wetherholt and push the WVU lead to 13-1.
The Nittany Lions got a run in the sixth. With two outs, Marsh lifted an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left for his fifth homer of the year. Penn State trailed 13-2.
The Mountaineers answered with a run in the bottom half. Leading off the inning, Sauve lifted a fly ball over the wall in left-center. WVU extended its lead to 14-2.
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 Dollar Dog Night, postgame fireworks and a free cape giveaway for kids in honor of National Superhero Day. Saturday's game, begins at 2 p.m. and includes postgame 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.
Grant Norris