DSC_1170DSC_1170
Mark Selders

Grant Norris

Baseball Begins 2024 Season Against Monmouth, Army

CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team is set to make its debut under head coach Mike Gambino on February 16-18, 2024 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The Nittany Lions will take on Monmouth and Army. Penn State begins the weekend against Monmouth on Friday at noon. Opening weekend continues on Saturday against Army (noon) and Monmouth (4 p.m.) before closing out on Sunday against Army (1:30 p.m.). A live stream will be available on USABaseball.TV.
 
Penn State begins its 136th baseball season. The Nittany Lions return 21 members from the 2023 squad, while adding 20 newcomers, including 11 transfers and nine true freshmen.
 
Monmouth won 16 games in 2023 and returns catcher Phil Stahl, who led the squad with a .346 average, 56 hits, 38 RBI and 22 runs last season.
 
Army captured the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles in 2023 before playing in the NCAA Regional in Charlottesville.
 
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please check @pennstatebase on X and Instagram.
 
The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
 
FOLLOW ALONG

 
FULL WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 16 –
Penn State vs. Monmouth, noon
Monmouth vs. Army, 4 p.m., Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 17 –
Penn State vs. Army, noon
Penn State vs. Army, 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, Feb. 18 –
Monmouth vs. Army, 10 a.m., Live Stats
Penn State vs. Monmouth, 1:30 p.m.
 
TICKETS & PARKING
All games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. are free admission and parking. All games will be played on Coleman Field.
 
More information on the USA Baseball National Training Complex can be found here.
 
LEADING OFF

  • Penn State opens its 136th baseball season, and first under head coach Mike   Gambino, as it hosts Monmouth and Army in Cary, N.C.
  • The Nittany Lions begin a schedule that includes 14 games against 2023 NCAA Regional teams and four games against 2023 College World Series teams.
  • Penn State returns 21 members from the 2023 squad and welcomes 20 newcomers, including 11 transfers and nine freshmen.
  • Among the transfers, three earned All-Conference honors at their previous schools.
  • Three transfer position players have appeared in at least 100 career games and three transfer pitchers have made at least 10 career appearances on the mound.
  • Among the returners, Bobby Marsh was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a DH last season after batting .310 with 13 doubles, six homers and 35 RBI.
  • Kyle Hannon also returns after tying a PSU season record with 27 steals.
  • Adam Cecere enters 2024 as one of 16 D1 players with 32+ HR and 116+ RBI in his career.
  • On the mound, Travis Luensmann is back after posting a team-high 59 strikeouts.

 
SCOUTING MONMOUTH, ARMY

  • Monmouth is coached by Dean Ehehalt in his 31st season.
  • The Hawks won 16 games in 2023, including six in CAA conference play.
  • Catcher Phil Stahl returns after leading the squad with a .346 average to go with 56 hits, 38 RBI and 22 runs.
  • Dante Ciaramella leads returning Monmouth pitchers with 54 strikeouts last season.
  • Army is led by head coach Chris Tracz in his second season.
  • In 2023, the Black Knights tallied a 38-18 record, including 21-4 in Patriot League action.
  • Army won the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles. The Black Knights played in the Charlottesville NCAA Regional.
  • Outfielder Braden Golinski batted .323 with 71 hits, including 16 doubles and 13 homers, and 52 RBI to go with 17 steals.
  • Tanner Gresham went 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA in 2023, adding 56 strikeouts in 59 innings.

 
AGAINST THE HAWKS, BLACK KNIGHTS

  • Penn State leads the all-time series, 6-4, against Monmouth.
  • The teams met last season with the Nittany Lions picking up an 11-3 win on February 26.
  • PSU has won five of the last six matchups.
  • The Nittany Lions are 19-8 all-time against Army.
  • Penn State and Army last met in 2016 with Penn State winning both games, 11-0 and 5-4.

 
NITTANY LIONS ENTER FIRST SEASON UNDER GAMBINO, NEW STAFF

  • Mike Gambino was hired on July 3, 2023 as the 15th head coach in Penn State baseball program history.
  • In 13 seasons at the helm of his alma mater Boston College, Gambino tallied 291 wins.
  • He guided the Eagles to a pair of NCAA Regionals in 2016 and 2023 and an NCAA Super Regional in 2016.
  • He recorded five seasons of 25 or more wins and eight seasons with 10 or more ACC wins.
  • Gambino coached 34 MLB Draft selections, including three first round picks and eight picks among the top five rounds. Five of his former BC players have reached the MLB.
  • He coached five All-American selections and five freshman All-American honorees as well as 16 All-ACC selections.
  • Associate head coach Scott Loiseau joins the program after serving as head coach at Southern New Hampshire from 2016-23 and 2008-14. He posted a 480-209-2 record in 16 years as a head coach, while leading the Penmen to five Division II College World Series appearances and 11-straight NCAA Tournament Appearances. He coached 12 MLB Draft selections.
  • Assistant Coach Nick Puccio arrives in Happy Valley after serving as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern from 2019-23, helping the Huskies to three-straight seasons of 30+ wins and CAA titles and NCAA Regional appearances in 2021 and 2023.
  • Assistant Coach Will Jauss steps into the pitching coach role after serving as director of pitching technology at Boston College in 2022 and 2023.
  • Penn State alum Mason Mellott remains on staff as director of pitching technology after helping to coach the Penn State pitching staff to post 411 strikeouts in 2023.
  • Former Nittany Lion standout Ryan Wheeler returned to Happy Valley to serve as director of program development/alumni relations after spending the last nine seasons on the Saint Joseph's staff, including the last five years as associate head coach. He ranks second in PSU history with 109 career walks and sits second with 184 consecutive starts.
  • Director of Operations/Player Development Jake Stone enters his fifth season on the Penn State staff.

 
PENN STATE WELCOMES 10 TRANSFERS

  • Graduate student outfielder Adam Cecere played in 143 contests at Wake Forest, tallying a .282 average, 113 hits, 114 runs and 116 RBI. He collected 25 doubles, two triples and 32 homers while also serving as a team captain.
  • Entering the 2024 season, Cecere is one of 16 Division I players with 32+ career home runs and 116+ career RBI. He is the only Big Ten player with 32 career HR and 116 career RBI.
  • Graduate student catcher J.T. Marr started 99 games at College of Charleston, batting .298 with 199 hits, including 18 doubles, four triples, 10 homers, 69 RBI, 63 runs and 19 steals. He was a Buster Posey Award semifinalist and an All-CAA first team selection in 2022.
  • Joining Marr at catcher is junior Matt Maloney, a transfer from Dayton. He hit .275 with 72 knocks, 30 RBI and 48 runs in 91 games (72 starts).
  • On the infield, graduate student Kevin Michaels joins the Nittany Lions after playing in 88 games (84 starts) at St. John's. He batted .283 with 92 hits, including 33 extra-base hits, 56 RBI and 59 runs in his St. John's career. Michaels earned first-team All-Big East honors in 2022.
  • Junior infielder Joe Jaconski played two seasons at North Carolina, appearing in 24 games (5 starts), while sophomore Bryce Molinaro joins the squad after spending last season at St. John's.
  • On the mound, junior Frankie Sanchez appeared in 24 games (6 starts) at Southern New Hampshire. He went 8-1 with two saves, a 2.97 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. In 2023, he went 8-1 with a 2.44 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. He was named third-team All-NECC.
  • Graduate student Chic DeGaetano made 41 appearances (15 starts) on the mound at Villanova. He notched 99 strikeouts in 103.2 innings, while earning six wins.
  • After serving as a two-way player at California (Pa.), David Lee will have a role on the mound after appearing in 11 games and picking up three wins in 2023.
  • Zach Mizrahi pitched last season at Tallahassee CC, striking out 19 in 15.1 innings.

 
HANNON, KELLEY, NORRIS CLIMB RECORDS LISTS

  • Senior Kyle Hannon's 27 steals in 2023 tied the Penn State season record, matching Michael Campo (27, 1999).
  • Hannon ranked second in the Big Ten in steals per game (0.55) and total steals (27) last season.
  • Entering the 2024 season, Hannon's 34 career steals rank 12th all-time at Penn State, one away from eighth place.
  • Hannon tied for teams highs with seven homers and 27 stolen bases in 2023, while also leading the squad with 51 runs.
  • The Harrisburg native is one of 14 Division I players, and the only Big Ten player, returning for the 2024 season who posted 7+ homers and 27+ steals last season.
  • Senior+ Tayven Kelley owns 11 career triples, tied fifth all-time at Penn State. He is one triple away from tying third place.
  • Graduate student Grant Norris' .538 career slugging percentage sits seventh all-time at Penn State.

 
HENLINE, LUENSMANN BRING VETERAN PRESENCE TO PITCHING STAFF

  • Penn State's pitching staff is led by seniors Jaden Henline and Travis Luensmann.
  • Luensmann owns eight wins and a 4.44 ERA over 29 appearances (18 starts) at Penn State to go with 137 strikeouts.
  • He tied eighth in the Big Ten with six wins last season and had seven outings throwing four or more innings and allowing two or less runs.
  • Henline (139.2) has the most career innings pitched among Penn State pitchers.
  • He has seven wins and four saves to go with a 4.96 ERA in his Nittany Lion career. He also has 113 strikeouts.
  • Henline had five outings in 2023 where he went five or more innings and allowed two or less runs.
  • Junior Anthony Steele looks to have a significant role, focusing on pitching after being a two-way player the last two seasons. He posted 21 strikeouts in 14 innings in 2023.

 
UP NEXT

  • The Nittany Lions travel to California to take on Stanford on February 23-25. The Cardinal went 44-20 in 2023, winning its NCAA Regional and Super Regional to advance to the College World Series. Stanford begins the year ranked No. 15 by Baseball America.