UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped an 11-9 decision against UMass Lowell on Friday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second, highlighted by a three-homer inning, but the River Hawks responded with a seven-run inning in the fourth to take the lead. Penn State is now 10-6 this season.
Mason Horwat made his second start of the year for the Nittany Lions, going 3.1 innings. He was charged with five runs (four earned) on three hits and two walks. Horwat struck out three.
Chic DeGaetano went one-third of an inning, giving up three runs (one earned). Matt Morash tossed 1.1 scoreless frames. Will Perkowski fired two innings, allowing two innings and striking out four. Mason Butash went two innings, giving up an unearned run and striking out two.
LJ Keevan got the start for UMass Lowell, pitching one inning and into the second. He allowed six runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking one. Michael Simes threw three innings, allowing one run. Brian Foley allowed two runs on 2.1 frames. James Capellupo picked up the save with 2.2 scoreless innings.
Penn State drove in nine runs on nine hits. Adam Cecere went three-for-five with two homers, three RBI and two runs. Grant Norris added a two-run homer, while Kyle Hannon had a three-run blast.
Cecere became Penn State's first player with two home runs in a game since Jay Harry on March 11, 2023 vs. Brown. Cecere hit two homers in a game for the sixth time in his career, last against Illinois in 2023 while playing for Wake Forest.
UMass Lowell tallied 11 runs on 12 hits. Brandon Fish had two hits and four RBI, while River Hart had a two-run double. Carlos Martinez and Ryan Proto each recorded two hits and an RBI.
The River Hawks got on the board in the top of the second. Conor Kelly shot a grounder past third base into left field and raced to second for a double. A flyout moved Kelly to third before a groundout by Fish allowed Kelly to score. The River Hawks led 1-0.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the bottom half. Cecere led off the inning by blasting a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right, his fourth homer of the season. Bobby Marsh followed with a single to left before Norris launched a fly ball over the wall in right for a two-run shot. The inning continued as Tayven Kelley singled to left and stole second. Billy Gerlott drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Hannon crushed a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right, 435 feet, for a three-run homer to extend the lead to 6-1.
UMass Lowell answered with seven runs in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Fritz Genther reached on an error, but the play allowed Martinez to score. Fish got on with a fielder's choice as Proto scored. After Fish stole second, Hart doubled to right to drive in two runs. An RBI single by Roddy Hernandez drove in Hart. Hernandez then stole second and went to third on an error before Alex Luccini was hit by a pitch. Martinez singled through the middle to score Hernandez. Proto drove in the final run of the inning with a double to right-center. UMass Lowell led 8-6.
Penn State got a run in the bottom of the fourth. Gerlott and Kevin Michaels worked leadoff walks before a sac bunt by Joe Jaconski moved the runners to second and third. A fly ball to center by Bryce Molinaro resulted in a sac fly as Gerlott hustled home. Penn State trailed 8-7.
UMass Lowell added on in the seventh. With one out, Kelly reached on a bunt single. A double by Genther put runners on second and third. Fish lined a single to right to drive in Kelly and Genter. UMass Lowell led 10-7.
Penn State cut the deficit again in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, J.T. Marr lined a single to right. On a 1-1 pitch, Cecere unloaded for his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to right. The Nittany Lions trailed 10-9.
The River Hawks plated a run in the eight. Hernandez and Trey Brown drew walks to begin the frame. On a bunt single by Luccini, a throwing error allowed Hernandez to score and extend UML's lead to 11-9.
The Nittany Lions and River Hawks conclude the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and will feature a postgame autograph session and trading card giveaway.
All home games are free admission for all ages.
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please follow @pennstatebase on X and Instagram.
The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Adam Cecere