UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team picked up its second win of the weekend with a 9-2 victory against Delaware State on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. A five-run second inning set the tone as the Nittany Lions improved to 16-11 overall.
Jordan Morales got his fourth start of the season for the Nittany Lions. He threw 4.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He recorded four strikeouts and walked one batter.
Travis Luensmann threw 4.1 innings in relief and collected his fifth win of the year. He recorded seven strikeouts and allowed no runs and only two hits. Luensmann had multiple strikeouts in the sixth and eighth innings. Luensmann retired 11 straight batters between the sixth and ninth inning.
Nathan Vidmar got the start for the Hornets. He threw three innings and gave up six runs on four hits. He struck out one and walked three batters. Jack Messmore tossed two innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Zachary Dale, Alex Bauer, C.J. Loper and Hiram Davis combined for the final three innings.
Penn State registered 10 hits. Grant Norris hit his third homer of the year, a two-run blast. Jay Harry went three-for-four, including a double, with two RBI and a run. Josh Spiegel added two hits, including an RBI single, and two runs. Kyle Hannon had two hits, including a double, two runs, two RBI and stole two bases.
With the two steals, Hannon now has 20 on the season. He is tied for sixth in a season at Penn State with Doug Keener (1985), O.J. McDuffie (1990), Michael Campo (2000) and Greg Guers (2016).
Delaware collected six hits. Brady Daniels and Jancarlos Colon both recorded a run.
The Nittany Lions exploded for five runs in the second inning. Spiegel started the inning with a single to center. Norris followed by launching the first pitch he saw over the batter's eye beyond the center field wall for a two-run homer. Bobby Marsh was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on a walk by Billy Gerlott. A fielder's choice by Tyson Cooper put runners on the corners. A sharp grounder up the middle by Hannon resulted in a double as he hustled into second and Marsh scored. After Thomas Bramley drew a walk, Harry singled through the right side to plate Cooper and Hannon. Penn State held a 5-0 lead.
Delaware State answered with a run in the third. Daniels dropped a single into center and Myles Eaddy drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Evan Bouldin lined a single to left to drive in Daniels and cut the PSU lead to 5-1.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fourth. Tayven Kelley started the frame with a double to the gap in left-center. Cooper moved Kelley up to third with a sac bunt. Hannon then lined a single to right-center to plate Kelley. Penn State extended its lead to 6-1.
The Hornets got a run in the fifth. Colon was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A grounder by Bouldin, off the plate, resulted in a throwing error which allowed Colon to cross the plate.
Penn State responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Harry led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Spiegel brought Harry home with a single to center. Spiegel moved up to second on Norris' walk and to third on a double play. Gerlott ripped a single to center to drive in Spiegel. Penn State led 8-2 through five innings.
The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the sixth. With one out, Hannon was hit by a pitch. He then stole second and third. After Bramley and Harry worked walks to load the bases, a wild pitch allowed Hannon to cross the plate. The Nittany Lions pushed their lead to 9-2.
Penn State and Delaware State conclude the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. featuring 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.
Grant Norris