PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Penn State baseball team dropped an 8-1 decision at Rutgers on Friday night at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. Penn State is now 24-16 overall and 6-9 in Big Ten play, while Rutgers improved to 28-18 overall and 9-7 in conference action.
Jordan Morales got the start for the Nittany Lions, tossing four innings. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. Morales struck out five batters, including two in the third inning.
Tommy Molsky entered to begin the fifth and threw four innings. He gave up five runs on five hits and walked one. Molsky recorded a career-high seven strikeouts, including two strikeouts in the fifth and striking out the side in the seventh.
Christian Coppola started on the mound for Rutgers, throwing seven innings. He gave up just one run on four hits and two walks. Coppola struck out 13 batters. Joe Mazza pitched two scoreless frames.
Penn State notched give hits. Johnny Piacentino recorded two hits, including an RBI double. Jay Harry added a double and a run. Kyle Hannon and Josh Spiegel each had a single.
With a walk in the first inning, Thomas Bramley drew his 37th of the season. He is now tied for fifth in a season at Penn State with C.J. Sichler (37; 1986) and James Coates (37; 2016).
Rutgers collected 11 hits. Chris Brito tallied two hits, including a grand slam. Jordan Sweeney tripled and scored a run. Ryan Lasko had two knocks and two RBI.
Rutgers got on the board in the second. Sweeney led off the frame with a triple to center. Two batters later, Cameron Love chopped a high grounder towards third, resulting in a ground out but allowing Sweeney to score. Rutgers led 1-0.
The Scarlet Knights added a pair of runs in the fourth, all with two outs. Andy Axelson singled to left. A double by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer put runners on second and third. Lasko dropped a single into right to drive in Axelson and Kuroda-Grauer. Rutgers held a 3-0 lead.
Rutgers plated five runs in the sixth. Love started the inning with a double to left. Trevor Cohen reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. Axelson lined a single to left to bring home Love. A sac bunt pushed the runners to second and third and the bases were loaded as Lasko was intentionally walked. Brito lifted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left for a grand slam. Rutgers pushed its lead to 8-0.
Penn State broke up the shutout in the seventh. Harry led off the inning with a double down the line in right. With two outs, Piacentino ripped a line drive off the wall in left for a double as Harry crossed the plate. The inning continued as Spiegel singled to left. Billy Gerlott drew a walk to load the bases. However, a strikeout ended the inning. Penn State trailed 8-1.
The series continues on Saturday with a 6 p.m. first pitch. Sunday's series finale is set for 2 p.m. Both games will be live streamed on B1G+.
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please check @pennstatebase on Twitter and Instagram.
Season and 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.
Johnny Piacentino