LINCOLN, Neb. – The Penn State baseball team fell 19-5 in the series opener at Nebraska on Friday evening at Haymarket Park. The Nittany Lions tied the game with two homers in the top of the fifth, but the Huskers answered with seven runs in the bottom half and led from there. Penn State is now 24-20 overall, while Nebraska improved to 27-20-1.
The Nittany Lions are 6-12 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers moved to 11-8.
Jordan Morales got the start for the Nittany Lions. Morales went 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Morales struck out four batters, including two strikeouts in each of the first two innings. Travis Luensmann threw two innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on three hits. He struck out one batter and walked two while hitting 100 mph on the radar gun.
Steven Miller worked one-third of an inning, giving up two hits. Ryan Partridge pitched 1.2 frames, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits. Partridge struck out one and walked one. Connor Throneberry went one inning, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits. He struck out one and walked one. Carson Kohls got the final out of the eighth.
Emmett Olson started for Nebraska, going seven innings. He gave up four runs on four hits. Olson recorded six strikeouts and two walks. Jackson Brockett threw the final two innings, giving up one run on one hit. He struck out one.
The Nittany Lions tallied five hits, including three home runs. Tayven Kelley hit his fourth homer of the year and drove in three runs. Bobby Marsh added a solo homer and scored twice. Grant Norris notched a solo homer. Marsh and Norris both hit their sixth homers of the season. Johnny Piacentino tripled and scored a run.
Penn State hit three or more homers in a game for the fourth time this season. Penn State had five homers against Brown on March 11 and three against Wagner on March 4 and three at Purdue on April 14.
Piacentino's triple was Penn State's 16th of the season, moving within three of the program's season record of 19 in 2022.
Nebraska recorded 16 hits. Brice Matthews went three-for-five with a homer, two RBI and three runs. Max Anderson collected three hits, including a double, four RBI and three runs. Gabe Swenson had two hits, including a homer, three RBI and three runs. Dylan Carey contributed a double and a triple among his three hits, while driving in two runs and scoring three.
The Huskers broke a scoreless tie in the third. With one out, Efry Cervantes beat out a throw on a close play at first for a single. On the first pitch he saw, Matthews launched a fly ball over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Nebraska led 2-0 after three.
Penn State tied the game in the fifth. Marsh led off the inning by blasting the first pitch of his at bat into the bullpen beyond the right field fence. Two batters later, Norris launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for a solo homer. The game was even at 2-2.
Nebraska responded with seven runs in the bottom half. Cervantes started the inning by reaching on an error. Matthews singled to left and the runners moved up a base on a passed ball. A sac bunt on the right side by Casey Burnham allowed Cervantes to score. A single up the middle by Max Anderson drove in Matthews. Walks by Swansen and Griffin Everitt loaded the bases. Josh Caron was hit by a pitch to bring home Anderson. Cole Evans lifted a fly ball to left for a sac fly as Swansen scored. Carey drove in two runs with a triple. A double to left by Cervantes plated Carey to put Nebraska ahead, 9-2.
Penn State scored two runs in the seventh. With one out, Marsh worked a four-pitch walk. Kelley blasted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right for a solo shot. His fourth homer of the year cut Penn State's deficit to 9-4.
Nebraska answered with six runs in the bottom half of the frame. A walk and two bunt singles loaded the bases. Cervantes reached on an error as Caron scored. Two batters later, Burnham hit a sac fly to left to score Evens. Anderson doubled to the corner in left to plate Cervantes and Carey. After Swansen walked, pinch-hitter Charlie Fischer reached on a fielder's choice with an error on the plat allowing Anderson to score. Caron singled up the middle to drive in Swansen to extend Nebraska's lead to 15-4.
Nebraska added four runs in the eighth. Carey started the inning with a double to left. Matthews was hit by a pitch before a single by Anderson scored Carey. Swansen launched a three-run homer to left-center to push the Huskers' lead to 19-4.
Penn State plated a run in the ninth. Piacentino led off the inning with a triple to right-center. Marsh was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Kelley bounced a grounder on the left side for a fielder's choice as Piacentino crossed the plate.
The series continues on Saturday. First pitch is at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Sunday's series finale starts at noon on ESPN2.
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please check @pennstatebase on Twitter and Instagram.
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