CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team collected a 4-3 win over Army on Saturday before falling 10-3 against Monmouth to split the day. The Nittany Lions are 2-1 heading into Sunday's weekend finale against Army at 1:30 p.m.
In game one, Frankie Sanchez struck out nine and allowed one run over six innings in his Penn State debut. Matt Maloney drove in three runs and Adam Cecere blasted his first homer as a Nittany Lion.
In game two, Joe Jaconski and J.T. Marr each had three hits, while Tayven Kelley homered for the first time this season.
With three steals against Monmouth, Kyle Hannon now has 37 in his career. He is tied for sixth all-time at Penn State with Dave Hall (37; 1990-94). On the day, he moved past Derek Bochna (35; 1992-95), Blake Lynd (35; 2009-11), Steve Snyder (35; 2010-14), Greg Guers (35; 2013-16) and Greg Vogel (36; 1973-76).
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The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Army Game
Frankie Sanchez made his first start as a Nittany Lion. The junior tossed six innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He matched a career high with nine strikeouts and walked three batters.
Chic DeGaetano took over in the seventh, going 1.1 innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and struck out one. Ben DeMell closed out the game to earn his first save of the season. He threw 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three.
Mike Ruggieri got the start for Army, going four innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. He added four strikeouts and two walks. Steven Graver went three innings, giving up two runs on five hits. Trey Ates threw a scoreless eighth inning.
The Nittany Lions collected four runs on 11 hits. Matt Maloney tallied two hits and drove in three runs. Adam Cecere launched a solo homer among two hits. Bobby Marsh had two hits and scored a run, while Joe Jaconski went two-for-three.
The Black Knights scored three runs on seven hits. Sam Ruta had two hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Chris Barr notched two hits, including a triple, and scored twice.
Army got on the board in the top of the first. Barr hit the first pitch of the game off the wall in right for a triple. Ruta grounded out to the right side but allowed Barr to score. Army took a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the fourth. With one out, Kevin Michaels grounded a single through the left side. Marsh followed with a single into right to put runners on the corners. Marsh stole second before Maloney ripped a single to right to bring home both runners. Penn State led 2-1 through four.
Penn State extended its lead in the fifth. On a 3-2 pitch, Cecere launched a fly ball over the wall in right for his first homer of the season. Penn State led 3-1.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the sixth. Marsh started the inning with a single to center. Pinch-runner Tayven Kelley moved to second on a groundout and to third on a stolen base. Maloney dribbled a grounder through the middle to drive home Kelley. Penn State held a 4-1 lead.
Army cut its deficit in the eighth. Barr started the inning with a single to right. Ruta followed with a homer over the wall in right-center. Penn State still led 4-3.
Monmouth Game
Carson Kohls started on the mound for the Nittany Lions. Kohls went 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. He tallied one strikeout and one walk. James Lordi finished the third and went 2.2 innings, giving up one runs on three hits and striking out one.
Connor Throneberry threw one inning, allowing one run on two hits. He recorded one strikeout and two walks. Matt Morash finished the game, going 2.2 frames. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one.
Alec Couture got the start for Monmouth, throwing three innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out five. Caden Carlin earned the win, going three innings. He allowed one run on five hits. Derek Benzinger threw three scoreless innings to end the game.
Penn State recorded three runs on 12 hits. Joe Jaconski and J.T. Marr each collected three hits. Tayven Kelley hit his first homer of the year, while Grant Norris added a double. Kyle Hannon tallied two hits and three steals.
Monmouth had 10 runs on 14 hits. Harry Padden led the way with four hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Jay Bant drove in four runs, including a three-run homer. Eric Sabato had three hits and an RBI.
The Hawks scored four runs in the top of the first. With two outs, Joey Ventresca was hit by a pitch. He stole second before James Harmstead drew a walk. Sabato singled to left to drive in Ventresca. The next batter, Bant, launched a three-run homer to right. Monmouth took a 4-0 lead.
Penn State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Hannon started the frame with a single to right. He stole second before getting to third on a wild pitch. Adam Cecere was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Bryce Molinaro lined a single to center to bring home Hannon. Two batters later, a line drive by Bobby Marsh was dropped for an error as Cecere scored. Penn State trailed 4-2 through one inning.
Monmouth plated three runs in the top of the third. With one out, Harmstead singled to left. Sabato doubled to the corner in right to put runners on second and third. A groundout by Bant allowed Harmstead to cross the plate. Matt Scrivanic followed with a single to left to drive in Sabato. A double by Padden drove in Scrivanic to put Monmouth up 7-2.
The Hawks added a run in the top of the sixth. Padden was hit by a pitch to start the inning. A sac bunt moved Padden to second before he scored on a single to left by Casey Caufield. Monmouth extended its lead to 8-2.
The Nittany Lions got a run back in the bottom half. Leading off the inning, Kelley crushed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left for his first homer of the season. Penn State trailed 8-3.
Monmouth added a run in the seventh on a triple by Padden, scoring Skyler Saunders, and a run in the ninth on a solo homer by Padden. Monmouth pushed its lead to 10-3.
Frankie Sanchez