UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned a 4-3 win over Michigan on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions won on a walk-off error in the bottom of the ninth to improve to 12-7 on the season. The win was Penn State's 200th while playing in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The Penn State pitching staff did not allow a hit until one out in the eighth.
Travis Luensmann made his sixth start of the year for the Nittany Lions. Luensmann did not allow a run or hit over four innings. He tallied six strikeouts and seven walks.
Mason Horwat went 1.2 frames, giving up one run with two walks and two strikeouts. Anthony Steele faced three batters with two scoring after being walked. David Lee recorded the final out of the sixth. Will Perkowski fired 2.2 strong innings, allowing no runs and two hits, while striking out five. Chic DeGaetano earned the final out to pick up the win.
Dylan Vigue got the start for Michigan, throwing 4.2 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits. He recorded four strikeouts and three walks. Jacob Denner threw the final four innings, giving up one run (unearned) on one hit and four walks, while striking out three.
Penn State tallied four runs on seven hits. Adam Cecere collected two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Bobby Marsh added an RBI single, while J.T. Marr singled and scored. Billy Gerlott contributed a double and a run.
Michigan scored three runs on two hits, but was helped by 14 walks. Stephen Hrustish had a double and an RBI.
Penn State got on the board in the third. With one out, Cecere singled to right. After a walk by Marr, Marsh followed with a single up the middle to bring home Cecere. Two batters later, Grant Norris sent a ground ball through the left side to drive in Marr. PSU led 2-0.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fourth. Gerlott led off the inning with a double to left. He moved up to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a sac fly to left by Kyle Hannon. PSU extended its lead to 3-0.
Michigan tied the game in the sixth. With one out, Will Rogers reached on a fielder's choice. He moved to second on a passed ball before Bradley Navarro walked. Joonsung Park was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Kyle Dernedde drew a walk to score Rogers. Hrustich worked a walk to bring home Navarro home before Park scored as Mitch Voit was hit by a pitch. The game was even at 3-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Marr reached on a one-out walk. Tayven Kelley switched places with Marr at first after a fielder's choice. Bryce Molinaro lined a single to right to put runners on the corners. After Molinaro went to second on defensive indifference, Norris chopped a ground ball on the left side of the infield. The ball was picked up by Michigan's Denner, who bobbled the ball and slipped, resulting in an error as Kelley scored.
The Nittany Lions and Wolverines are set to play at 2 p.m. on Saturday. It is Bark In The Park Day, in honor of National Puppy Day, and features a dog bandana giveaway. PSU will be collecting donation items for Centre County Paws. For potential items, visit the PAWS wishlist here. Saturday also includes postgame autographs and a trading card set giveaway.
On Sunday, the series finale is set for 1 p.m. and features postgame kids run the bases.
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.
