UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to take a 14-13 lead going into the ninth, but fell 17-14 against Bucknell on Tuesday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Bison scored four in the ninth, including a three-run homer, to re-take the lead. Penn State dropped to 14-11 overall, while Bucknell moved to 14-14.
Kellan Tulio made his first start of the season for the Nittany Lions, going 1.1 innings and allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. Chad Rogers worked 1.1 frames in relief, giving up three runs on three hits before Ryan Partridge got the final out of the third. Ben DeMell limited the damage, going three innings and giving up two runs on four hits and striking out two. Anthony Steele pitched 1.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and striking out four. Connor Throneberry recorded a strikeout against the only batter he faced. Tommy Molsky took the mound in the ninth, but allowed four runs on four hits anda. walk. Carson Kohls recorded the final two outs.
Bucknell started Ryan Osinski on the mound. He threw 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three walks and striking out two. Bryce Reimer went 1.1 frames, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits. Hadley Maxwell tossed three innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out three. Connor Vucovich recorded one out, while allowing three runs (unearned) before Theo Farynick finished out the game, also allowing three unearned runs in 1.2 innings.
Penn State registered 14 runs on 13 hits. Tyson Cooper, Billy Gerlott, Jay Harry, Bobby Marsh and Josh Spiegel each recorded two hits. Spiegel added three RBI and two runs, while Gerlott drove in three runs and scored one. Harry plated two runs and scored two. Cooper scored two runs and drove in one. Grant Norris had a hit and three RBI, while Kyle Hannon scored three runs and stole two bases.
Bucknell tallied 17 runs on 17 hits. Grant Voytovich went four-for-six with a homer, six RBI and three runs. Sean Keys also had six RBI and a homer, while scoring two runs. Anthony Sherwin and Jacob Corson each collected three hits and four runs at the top of the lineup.
In the top of the first, Corson and Voytovich traded one-out doubles to score Bucknell's first run.
The Bison tacked on five runs in the second. Bucknell loaded the bases with one out. Corson worked a walk to allow Henry Novicki to score. Voytovich followed by launching an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a grand slam.
Bucknell added a run in the third. Kyle Lyons reached on a single and stole second before Sherwin lined a double to left to drive in Lyons. Bucknell extended its lead to 7-0.
Penn State responded with two runs in the bottom half. Cooper was hit by a pitch before Hannon and Thomas Bramley walked to load the bases. Harry sent a single through the right side of the infield to bring home Cooper and Hannon to cut the deficit to 7-2.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fourth. Marsh led off the inning with an infield single. He advanced to third after an error on a pickoff play. Cooper then chopped a grounder through the middle to plate Marsh. Penn State trailed 7-3.
Penn State scored three runs in the fifth. Bramley started the inning with a single to right and went to second on a wild pitch. A single by Harry put runners on the corners. Spiegel sent a single to right to drive in Bramley. Gerlott followed with a single through the left side to plate Harry. Two batters later, Grant Norris grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed Spiegel to score. The Nittany Lions trimmed their deficit to 7-6.
However, Bucknell answered with two runs in the sixth. Sherwin began the inning with a single and Voytovich doubled to put runners on second and third. A double to left by Keys drove in both runners to extend Bucknell's lead to 9-6.
Penn State again responded with two runs. Cooper singled to leadoff the inning. Hannon grounded into a fielder's choice, but then stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Harry hit a groundball to the right side of the infield, but a wild throw resulted in an error and Hannon scoring. Harry stole third before scoring on a single to right-center by Spiegel. Penn State trailed 9-8 through six innings.
Bucknell plated four runs in the eighth. A single by Sherwin and a double by Corson started the inning. A fielder's choice by Keys allowed Sherwin to score. After Mason Kelly drew a walk, Dunn lined a double to center to drive in Corson and Keys. An errant throw on the play allowed Kelly to score. The Bison extended their lead to 13-8.
Penn State took the lead with six runs in the eighth. Cooper reached on an error to begin the inning and a single by Hannon put runners on the corners. A wild pitch scored Cooper from third and moved Hannon to second. Hannon stole third before Bramley worked a walk. Bramley stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Spiegel bounced a ground ball to the left side which resulted in another error as Hannon scored and runners moved to second and third. Gerlott then singled through the middle to bring home Bramley and Spiegel. Gerlott stole second and moved to third on a single by Marsh. Pinch-runner Ben Kailher moved up to second on a wild pitch. Norris then shot a grounder through the middle to plate Gerlott and Kailher. The Nittany Lions held a 14-13 lead going into the ninth.
Bucknell answered with four runs in the ninth. Sherwin drew a one-out walk before Corson singled to right to put runners on the corners. A single to left by Voytovich drove in Sherwin to tie the game. Keys blasted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right for a three-run homer to put Bucknell ahead, 17-14.
The Nittany Lions host Delaware State next weekend, beginning on Thursday, April 6. Thursday and Friday games are set for a 6 p.m. start and Sunday's series finale is set for 2 p.m.
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.
Josh Spiegel