DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team swept its doubleheader at Davidson on Sunday at Wilson Field. The Nittany Lions won 14-7 in game one and 6-4 in game two to take the series. Penn State improved to 7-3 on the season.
In game one, four Nittany Lions recorded multi-hit and multi-RBI performances, led by J.T. Marr's two-hit, four-RBI day. Marr and Adam Cecere both launched homers, while Bobby Marsh and Bryce Molinaro both drove in three runs. Jaden Henline earned the win, allowing three runs in five innings.
In game two, Penn State got a strong start from Mason Horwat, who allowed just one hit and two runs. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and faced the minimum through five. Marr collected two hits and two RBI.
Marr has a hit in all 10 games this season, including six multi-hit performances.
With a steal in game two, Kyle Hannon recorded his 39th career stolen base. He moved into a tie for fifth all-time at Penn State with Kevin Billotte (1995-98).
The Nittany Lions continue their Spring Break trip on Tuesday at No. 13 Virginia. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on ACCNX.
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.
Game One
Jaden Henline made his second start of the year for the Nittany Lions, tossing five innings. He gave up three runs on six hits. Henline notched one strikeout and walked one.
Anthony Steele threw 1.2 innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk. David Lee finished the seventh and earned the save, going 2.1 innings and giving up one run on three hits while striking out one.
Cooper Cavanaugh got the start for Davidson, going 4.2 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits and five walks. Cavanaugh recorded four strikeouts. Isaac Fix faced five batters, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks. Jake Dunagan threw 2.1 innings, giving up one run. Michael Baermann pitched one inning, giving up four runs on two hits. Will Banks allowed one run over two-thirds of an inning. Danny Rosenfield struck out the only batter he faced.
Penn State tallied 14 runs on 10 hits and 13 walks. Four Nittany Lions had multi-hit and multi-RBI performances, led by J.T. Marr with two hits, including a two-run homer, four RBI and three runs. Bryce Molinaro collected two hits, three RBI and three runs. Grant Norris contributed two hits, including a double, and two RBI, while Bobby Marsh had two hits and three RBI. Adam Cecere launched his third homer of the year and scored three times. Kyle Hannon drew four walks and scored two runs.
Davidson collected seven runs on 12 hits. Jake Wilhoit recorded three hits, including a homer, two RBI and two runs. Jacob Friend and Jed Howard each had two hits and two RBI.
The Nittany Lions took an early lead in the top of the first. With two outs, Molinaro lined a single into right-center. Molinaro advanced on a wild pitch before Marr and Cecere drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Norris followed with a single to left to drive in Molinaro and Marr. Marsh dropped a single into shallow right-center to bring home Cecere to push the Penn State lead to 3-0.
Davidson answered with two runs in the bottom half. With one out, Friend drew a walk and Eli Putnam singled to put two runners on. Two batters later, Howard lined a double to the gap in left-center to drive in both runners. Penn State held a 3-2 lead through one.
Penn State added a run in the top of the third. Hannon fought his way through a nine-pitch at-bat to work a walk. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Hannon to race to third. Molinaro lifted a fly ball to the corner in right for a sac fly as Hannon scored from third. PSU extended its lead to 4-2.
The Wildcats got a run in the fourth. The inning began with singles by Michael O'Shaughnessy and Howard. A sac bunt moved the runners up to second and third. On a fielder's choice, Howard was thrown out between second and third, but O'Shaughnessy scored on the play. Penn State led 4-3 through four frames.
Penn State extended its lead in the fifth. Joe Jaconski and Molinaro drew walks to put two runners on with two outs. A wild pitch moved the runners up a base before Marr lined a single into right to drive in both runners. Cecere and Norris worked walks to re-load the bases. Marsh followed with a single into shallow right to drive in Marr and Cecere. Penn State led 8-3.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the seventh. With one out, Cecere blasted a 3-0 pitch over the wall in right. Penn State pushed its lead to 9-3.
Davidson answered in the bottom of the seventh. Jack Cotrone worked a one-out walk before Wilhoit shot a line drive over the wall in left. The inning continued as Nick Calero singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Friend lined a single to center to bring home Calero. Penn State still led 9-6.
The Nittany Lions added four runs in the eighth. Kevin Michaels drew a leadoff walk. A walk by Kyle Hannon put runners on first and second before a wild pitch moved the runners up. Molinaro grounded a single through the left side to bring home pinch-runner Billy Gerlott and Hannon. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Marr launched a no-doubter to right for a two-run homer to extend the lead to 13-6.
Penn State plated a run in the ninth. With two outs, Gerlott was hit by a pitch. Tayven Kelley beat out an infield single before Jaconski drew a walk. Gerlott scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 14-6.
Davidson scored in the bottom of the ninth. Wilhoit singled to left with one out. Aidan Rice followed with a single to left. Two batters later, Friend singled to center to bring home Wilhoit.
Game Two
Mason Horwat made his first career start for Penn State, with five strong innings. He allowed two runs on one hit and one walk. He retired 11 straight-batters between the second and fifth innings and did not allow a hit until a single to leadoff the sixth. Horwat faced the minimum through five innings.
Ben DeMell went 1.1 frames in relief, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks, while recording two strikeouts. Chic DeGaetano finished the seventh and went 1.2 innings, giving up no runs or hits and striking out two. Mason Butash entered the game in the ninth to earn the save with a scoreless frame and a strikeout.
Ryan Feczko started for Davidson, going 3.1 innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out two. Brycen Champey tossed 2.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits and three walks, while striking out one. Matt Weber threw the final three innings, allowing no runs and striking out four.
Penn State notched six runs on 11 hits. J.T. Marr recorded two hits and two RBI, while Joe Jaconski had two hits and an RBI. Matt Maloney contributed an RBI single and scored twice. Billy Gerlott had two hits, including a double.
Davidson registered four runs on three hits, led by Eli Putnam's grand slam.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the first. Jaconski started the game with a single through the middle. Jaconski moved up to second on a groundout before scoring on a single to right-center by Marr. Penn State led 1-0.
Penn State added four runs in the fourth. Grant Norris led off the frame with an infield single before Bobby Marsh was hit by a pitch. Maloney drove a single to right to bring in Norris. A sac bunt by Gerlott moved Marsh to third and Maloney to second. Marsh scored on a wild pitch before Jaconski ripped a single to right to plate Maloney. Kyle Hannon reached on a fielder's choice. Hannon stole second with an errant throw allowing him to go to third. Two batters later, Marr singled to left to drive in Hannon. Penn State held a 5-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions plated a run in the fifth. With two outs, Maloney drew a walk. A single by Gerlott and a hit-by-pitch by Jaconski loaded the bases. Hannon held off on a 3-0 pitch for a walk as Maloney scored. Penn State pushed its lead to 6-0.
Davidson broke through with four runs in the sixth. Jack Cotrone led off the inning with an infield single. Noah Jouras was hit by a pitch. Three batters later, Jacob Friend held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk to load the bases. On a 2-1 pitch, Eli Putnam launched a fly ball over the wall in left-center for a grand slam. Penn State's lead was trimmed to 6-4.
Adam Cecere