UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped a 10-3 decision against Kent State on Tuesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions are now 18-15 on the season, while Kent State improved to 17-17.
For the second-straight week, Penn State set an attendance record with 5,025 fans. The Nittany Lions had over 5,000 fans at a game for the first time in program history, while topping last Tuesday's 4,902 fans.
On Dollar Dog night, Penn State fans consumed 8,591 hot dogs, breaking last Tuesday's record of 6,151.
Mason Butash made his sixth start of the season for the Nittany Lions, going three innings. He allowed four runs on five hits, while recording one strikeout and one walk.
Chic DeGaetano tossed a scoreless inning and struck out two. James Lordi threw one inning, giving up one run and one hit. Ben DeMell went one inning, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three. Anthony Steele allowed one run in one inning and struck out two. David Lee gave up two runs over one inning. Connor Throneberry worked one inning, allowing one unearned run.
Rocco Bernadina got the start for Kent State, throwing 4.2 frames. He allowed one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked one. Jaden Varner went two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Caden Leonard threw 1.1 innings. He allowed no runs on two hits and struck out one. Gavin Jones gave up two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work, while striking out three. Benny Roebuck threw the final inning and struck out two.
Penn State tallied three runs on eight hits. Bryce Molinaro collected two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Joe Jaconski doubled and walked twice. Matt Maloney added an RBI single.
Kent State registered 10 runs on 13 hits. Josh Johnson had two hits and two RBI to go with a run. Tim Orr added two hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs. Brody Williams notched two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Michael McNamara had two hits, an RBI and scored three times.
The Golden Flashes got on the board in the first. Johnson led off the game with a walk. He moved to second on a passed ball before scoring on a single to right by Orr. After stealing second, Orr moved up third on a groundout. A groundout by Williams allowed Orr to cross the plate. Kent State led 2-0.
Kent State added a run in the second. McNamara was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. Hunter Klotz singled to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Johnson sent a single to left to bring home McNamara. The Golden Flashes led 3-0.
The Golden Flashes plated a run in the third. Kyle Jackson led off the inning with a double off the wall in right. Williams sent a single into left to drive in Jackson. Kent State held a 4-0 lead.
Kent State got a run in the fifth. Orr started the inning with a double to right. A fly out moved Orr to third. With two outs, Williams was picked off between first and second but while he was in the run down, Orr scored. The Golden Flashes led 5-0.
The Nittany Lions cut into their deficit in the bottom of the fifth. Molinaro reached on an infield single. A single to center by Tayven Kelley moved Molinaro to second. A fielder's choice by Kyle Hannon put runners on the corners. After Hannon stole second, Jaconski drew a walk to load the bases. Bobby Marsh was hit by a pitch to allow Molinaro to score. Penn State trailed 5-1.
Kent State responded with a run in the sixth. McNamara started the inning with a single. A double to right by Ripken Reese put runners at second and third. Johnson placed a bunt down the third base and beat the throw to first for a single as McNamara crossed the plate. Kent State led 6-1.
The Golden Flashes added a run in the seventh. With one out, Williams doubled to left. Two batters later, McNamara singled to left to drive in Williams. Kent State pushed its lead to 7-1.
Kent State scored in the eighth. Lance Macdonald singled through the right side to start the inning. Macdonald stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error. On a single by Reese, Macdonald crossed the plate. After a walk by Johnson and Jackson was hit by a pitch, a wild pitch allowed Reese to score. Kent State led 9-1.
Penn State scored a pair of runs in the eighth. J.T. Marr led off the inning with a single to right. With two outs, Molinaro worked a walk. Maloney lined a single to left to bring home Marr. A wild pitch allowed Molinaro to cross. PSU trailed 9-3.
Kent State answered with a run in the top of the ninth. After walks by McNamara and Payton Ebbing, a fielder's choice by McDonald resulted in a throwing error, allowing McNamara to score. Kent State led 10-3.
The Nittany Lions continue Big Ten play this weekend, April 19-21, at Michigan State. Friday's contest is set for 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Saturday's first pitch is at 3:35 p.m. and Sunday's series finale is at 1:05 p.m.
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.
Bryce Molinaro