UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team got a strong pitching performance from Jaden Henline and Steven Miller to pick up a 7-2 win over Delaware State on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions improved to 15-11 overall.
Henline made his second start of the season. After a rough first inning, Henline settled down to go six innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, while striking out five and walking one. Henline retired the final 11 batters he faced to allow the Nittany Lions to climb back into the game.
Miller earned the victory after closing out the game with three shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk, while racking up six strikeouts. Miller struck out the side in the ninth.
Jordan Haddaway got the start for the Hornets. He threw 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. Haddaway recorded three strikeouts and a walk. Evan Harris took the mound with one out in the sixth. Harris went 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on two hits and four walks. Hunter Thompson pitched the final inning-and-a-third, surrendering one run on three hits and striking out four.
Penn State registered 11 hits. Kyle Hannon had two hits, two runs and a stolen base at the top of the lineup. Jay Harry added two hits, an RBI and two runs, while Josh Spiegel had two knocks, including an RBI single. Grant Norris drove in two runs, including one on a triple.
Delaware State tallied four hits. Myles Eaddy had a single and a run, while Nick Gnardellis had an RBI single.
The Hornets jumped out to a lead in the first, helped by an error. Eaddy started the inning with a single up the middle. He then stole second before Evan Bouldin hit a grounder to the left side, which resulted in an error and Eaddy scoring from second. Two batters later, Krew Bouldin singled to center to put runners on first and second. A sharp single through the left side by Gnardellis drove in Evan Bouldin. Delaware State held a 2-0 lead.
Penn State got on the bord in the fourth. With one out, Harry singled to right. Spiegel reached on an infield single, moving Harry to second. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Harry to score and cut PSU's deficit in half, 2-1.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the sixth. Again with one out, Harry sent a single to right. Spiegel dribbled a grounder through the middle to place runners on the corners. Norris chopped a grounder just behind the third base bag, which resulted in a ground out but allowed Harry to score and even the contest at 2-2.
Penn State took the lead in the seventh. Tyson Cooper sparked the inning with a four-pitch walk. Hannon singled to right before Thomas Bramley drew a walk to load the bases. Harry then chopped a grounder to the right side with the ground out scoring Cooper from third. Spiegel followed with a ground out to the shortstop, but plated Hannon on the play. Norris drove a 1-0 pitch to the warning track in center and hustled to third for a triple as Bramley scored. After a pitching change, Marsh dropped a single into center to plate Norris. The Nittany Lions gained a 6-2 lead.
The blue and white added a run in the eighth. With two outs, Hannon singled through the right side. He moved up to second on his 18th stolen base of the year. Bramley ripped a single to right as Hannon came around to score and extend the Penn State lead to 7-2.
The Nittany Lions and the Hornets continue the series on Friday at 6 p.m. All Friday home games feature a 4-for-$24 ticket deal (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks for $24). The series concludes on Saturday at 2 p.m. Saturday is free admission while the State College Spikes host their annual SpikesFest. Saturday also features postgame 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.
Jaden Henline