CARY, N.C. – The Penn State baseball team earned two wins over Harvard on Friday at Coleman Field in the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Penn State won the first game, 5-3, before picking up an 8-7 win in 10 innings in game two. The Nittany Lions are now 9-4 this season.
With the win in game two, head coach Mike Gambino earned his 300th career win.
In game one, Travis Luensmann worked six innings, allowing two runs and striking out six. Adam Cecere tallied two doubles, while driving in three runs and scoring twice.
In game two, Grant Norris launched a two-run homer, while Tayven Kelley, J.T. Marr and Bryce Molinaro each had three hits. Kelley drove in two runs. The Nittany Lions won in the 10th as Joe Jaconski scored on an error.
On the day, Kyle Hannon collected four steals. He now has 43 career steals to move into fourth all-time at Penn State. Hannon jumped Sean Deegan (41; 2009-12) to slide into fourth.
Penn State concludes the series against Harvard on Sunday at noon.
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
Travis Luensmann earned the start for the Nittany Lions, going six innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and four walks. Luensmann struck out six batters. Luensmann worked five scoreless innings before giving up a pair of runs in the sixth. He struck out two batters in the first and third innings.
Anthony Steele worked two scoreless innings, striking out three. David Lee picked up the save, allowing one run in one inning, but striking out three.
Sean Matson started for Harvard, throwing 5.1 innings. He allowed two runs on two hits and four walks. Matson recorded seven strikeouts. Andrew Abler gave up three runs over one inning. Cole Cleary threw one innings, walking two.
Penn State recorded five runs on five hits and eight walks. Adam Cecere notched two doubles, three RBI and two runs. Joe Jaconski had a hit and scored two runs. Matt Maloney tallied an RBI single, while Billy Gerlott doubled and scored.
Harvard registered three runs on four hits. Peter Messervy drove in two runs with a single, while Dominic Brancel had an RBI double.
Harvard broke through for two runs in the sixth. Ben Rounds worked a 10-pitch walk to start the inning. Two batters later, Jake Berger drew a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third. With two outs, Messervy singled to right to drive in Rounds and Berger and give the Crimson a 2-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning. Jaconski dropped a single into left-center to begin the frame. Cecere followed with a double off the wall in center and Jaconski raced home from first. J.T. Marr worked a walk before Maloney lined a single to left to bring home Cecere to tie the game at 2-2.
Penn State took the lead with three runs in the seventh. With one out, Gerlott ripped a double to the left-center gap. Jaconski drew a walk before Cecere blasted another double off the wall in center to drive in both runners. Cecere stole third before scoring on a wild pitch. PSU extended its lead to 5-2.
Harvard added a run in the ninth. With one out, Sawyer Feller drew a walk. Pinch-hitter Brancel snuck a ground ball inside the left field line as Feller scored from first. Harvard cut its deficit to 5-3.
Game Two
Mason Butash made his third start of the season for Penn State. He fired three innings, allowing one run on two hits. Butash struck out three batters. Chic DeGaetano took over to begin the fourth, going two-thirds of an inning and allowing two runs.
Matt Morash worked 1.1 frames, giving up one run on three hits and striking out two. Ben DeMell tossed two innings, allowing one run on two hits and walking one. Will Perkowski worked a scoreless eighth. Mason Horwat picked up the win, going two innings. He allowed two runs (unearned) on one hit and two walks. Horwat recorded three strikeouts.
Brian Dowling got the start for Harvard, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits. He struck out one and walked two. Truman Pauley tossed three innings, allowing one run on four hits. Will Burns went 2.1 innings, giving up an unearned run.
Penn State collected eight runs on 13 hits. Grant Norris notched two hits, including a two-run homer. Tayven Kelley posted three hits and two RBI. J.T. Marr and Bryce Molinaro both went three-for-five with Marr adding an RBI double. Kyle Hannon had a double, two runs and three steals.
Harvard plated seven runs on 11 hits. Matt Giberti had three hits, including two doubles, and scored two runs. George Cooper registered two hits and an RBI. Ben Rounds doubled and scored twice.
Harvard got on the board in the top of the first. Giberti led off the game with a double to center. Giberti moved up to third on a flyout by Cooper and scored on a groundout by Jake Berger. Harvard led 1-0.
Penn State tied the game in the second. Norris lined a double to the corner in right. A groundout moved Norris to third. Billy Gerlott reached on a fielder's choice as Norris was thrown out at the plate. Kelley followed with a single through the right side. Gerlott drew a throw as he was running to third. The throw went out of play to allow Gerlott to cross the plate. The game was even at 1-1.
The Crimson added two runs in the top of the fourth. Rounds started the frame with a double to center before Berger reached on a walk. Peter Messervy was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An infield single by William Lybrook allowed Rounds to score. Max Lane held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk to let Berger score. Harvard led 3-1.
Penn State got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. Norris reached on a leadoff walk. Hannon bounced into a fielder's choice. Hannon stole second and third on back-to-back pitches before Kelley dribbled a groundball on the right side of the infield and beat the throw for a single as Hannon scored. Penn State cut its deficit to 3-2.
Harvard extended its lead in the fifth. With two outs, Berger and Chris Snopek singled to put runners on the corners. Tyler Shulman singled to left to bring in Berger. Harvard led 4-2.
Penn State answered in the bottom half. Adam Cecere led off the inning with a walk. Molinaro followed with a single to left. Marr lifted a fly ball over the left fielder for a double as Cecere scored. Kevin Michaels drove in Molinaro with a sac fly. On a 3-2 pitch, Norris crushed a fly ball off the batter's eye for a two-run homer. Hannon drew a walk before stealing second. A fly ball by Gerlott landed in shallow right for a double to move Hannon to third. Kelley singled through the middle to plate Hannon. The Nittany Lions led 7-4 through five.
Harvard added a run in the sixth. With two outs, Giberti doubled to the gap in right-center. A single by Cooper allowed Giberti to score and cut the Crimson deficit to 7-5.
Harvard tied the game in the top of the ninth. Cooper started the inning with an infield single before Rounds walked. A groundball on the right side by Berger resulted in an error, allowing Cooper to score and Rounds to go to third. Rounds scored on a groundout to even the game at 7-7.
In the bottom of the 10th, with two outs, Joe Jaconski held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk. Cecere sent a fly ball to left, which was dropped and allowed Jaconski to cross the plate for the winning run.
Grant Norris celebrates his home run in the fifth inning of game two