UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 17-15 against No. 20 Maryland in heart-breaking fashion on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Penn State entered the ninth with a 15-12 lead, but the Terrapins scored five in the top of the inning to take the lead. Penn State is now 24-24 overall, while Maryland improved to 36-18.
The Nittany Lions dropped to 6-15 in conference play, while first-place Maryland moved to 16-6.
Jaden Henline got the start on the bump for the Nittany Lions. Henline worked five full innings and into the sixth. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits. The junior recorded three strikeouts and two walks. Steven Miller worked 1.1 frames, giving up six runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out two. Jordan Morales threw two innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Morales struck out three and walked three. Travis Luensmann pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on four hits.
Nick Dean made the start for Maryland, throwing 4.1 innings. He allowed eight runs (two earned) on seven hits. Dean struck out five batters. Kenny Lippmann threw two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk. Logan Ott tossed a full inning, allowing one run on two hits. Nigel Belgrave threw one-third of an inning, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks. Dave Falco finished the game with 2.2 scoreless frames.
Penn State tallied 13 hits. Bobby Marsh recorded two doubles, two runs and four RBI. Grant Norris collected two hits, including a two-run triple, and two RBI. Jay Harry and Johnny Piacentino each registered two hits and two RBI.
With one walk on the night, Thomas Bramley worked his 40th walk of the season. He broke a tie for third in a season at Penn State with Landon Nakata (39, 2008) and Shawn Fagan (39, 2000).
Maryland collected 21 his. Nick Lorusso, Elijah Lambros and Kevin Keister each drove in three runs.
The Terrapins jumped out to an early advantage. Ian Petrutz worked a leadoff walk. A double to the right-center gap by Matt Woods placed runners on second and third. Lambros lined a singled to right-center to plate Petrutz and Woods. A single by Jacob Orr moved runners to the corners. Keister chopped a ground ball towards third, resulting in a fielder's choice, but an errant throw to first allowed Lambros to score. Maryland led 3-0.
Penn State answered with seven runs in the bottom half. A grounder by Marsh was misplayed at first. A single by Josh Spiegel placed runners at the corners. A ground ball by Harry resulted in an error, allowing Marsh to score. Kyle Hannon shot a grounder through the right side to bring home Spiegel. A single to right by Billy Gerlott loaded the bases. Two batters later, Bramley was hit by a pitch to plate Harry. Piacentino lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly as Hannon scored. Bramley stole second to put runners at second and third. A grounder by Grant Norris resulted in an error to score Gerlott and move Bramley to third. Norris stole second before Marsh ripped a double to the corner in right to bring home Bramley and Norris to extend Penn State's lead to 7-3.
The Terrapins plated three runs in the fourth. Woods started the inning with a single to left. Lambros lined a single to left as a throwing error on the play allowed Woods to score. Orr shot a single up the middle to drive in Lambros. A double to left-center by Luke Shliger moved runners up to second and third. Matt Shaw lifted a fly ball to the warning track in center to bring home Orr. Penn State held a 7-6 lead.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fifth. Spiegel singled to right to begin the frame. Harry followed with a single to right to move Spiegel to third. Hannon lifted a fly ball to left for a sac fly as Spiegel scored from third. Penn State extended its lead to 8-6.
Penn State plated five runs in the sixth. Tayven Kelley worked a leadoff walk. Bramley reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Piacentino lined a single to right-center to bring home Kelley. Norris ripped a triple to the nook in left-center to drive in Bramley and Piacentino. After a pitching change, Marsh roped a double to the gap in right-center to plate Norris. Two batters later, Harry lined a single to center to score Marsh. Penn State pushed its lead to 13-6.
Maryland scored six runs in the seventh. With one out, Lambros drew a walk and Orr was hit by a pitch. Keister doubled to right-center to bring in both runs. Shliger and Shaw walked to load the bases. Lorusso singled to right to drive in Keister. Petrutz lifted a fly ball to right for a sac fly as Shliger scored. A single up the middle by Eddie Hacopian plated Shaw from third. Woods and Lambros worked back-to-back walks with Lorusso scoring on Lambros' walk. Penn State's lead was trimmed to 13-12.
The Nittany Lions responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. Kelley and Bramley walked to start the inning before Piacentino singled to load the bases. In an eight-pitch at bat, Marsh held off on ball four to work a walk and allow Kelley to score. Spiegel chopped a grounder to the left side, resulting in a fielder's choice and Piacentino scoring from third. Penn State extended its lead to 15-12.
Maryland took the lead in the top of the ninth. Hacopian started the inning with a double to left-center. Woods was hit by a pitch and Orr singled to center to load the bases. A fly out by Keister to resulted in a sac fly as Hacopian scored. Shliger doubled down the left field line to score Woods. Shaw was intentionally walked to load the bases. A single by Lorusso through the left side plated Orr and Shliger. Petrutz singled to left-center to drive in Shaw to move Maryland's lead to 17-15.
The series continues on Friday at 5 p.m. Friday features Bark In The Park Night, including a Penn State dog bandana giveaway. Friday also includes postgame fireworks and our 4 for $24 deal (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks for $24). Must have proof of dog's current vaccinations.
The series concludes on Saturday at noon. Saturday is Senior Day, featuring a postgame ceremony as well as postgame autographs and a trading card giveaway.
Both games will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please follow @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.
Bobby Marsh