UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team came up just short in its comeback attempt against Minnesota on Saturday, falling 5-4 in a tight game. Penn State is now 20-18 overall and 7-10 in Big Ten play. Minnesota moved to 19-19 overall and 5-9 in conference action.
Jaden Henline made the start for Penn State, staying on the mound for six innings. He struck out a season-high five batters while only walking one. He allowed eight hits and three runs, working five scoreless frames.
Travis Luensmann entered in the seventh inning, striking out three while giving up two hits and two runs.
Connor Wietgrefe got the start for Minnesota, throwing five frames for the Gophers. Over the five innings, he allowed a run and three hits while collecting seven strikeouts and walking two. Justin Thorsteinson worked three shutout innings, allowing a hit and a walk, while striking out one. Kyle Remington threw the ninth inning, allowing three runs on three hits.
The Nittany Lions scored four runs on seven hits. Grant Norris had an inside-the-park home run, while J.T. Marr contributed a two-run single. Joe Jaconski tallied an RBI single and scored a run. Matt Maloney had two hits.
Norris' inside-the-park home run was Penn State's first since Kris Kremer against Pitt on April 10, 2019.
Minnesota notched five runs off 10 hits. Sam Hunt drove in three runs, while Jack Spanier had two hits and an RBI. Josh Fitzgerald knocked in a run and scored twice.
The Nittany Lions broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. With one out, Norris hit a line drive to center, over the leaping outfielder. The ball rolled to the fence as Norris went all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Penn State led 1-0.
Minnesota took the lead in the sixth. Weber Neels led off the inning with a single to left. Ike Mezzenga doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Josh Fitzgerald lined a single to center to drive in Neels. A fielder's choice by Kris Hokenson resulted in Mezzenga getting thrown out at the plate but kept runners on the corners. A walk by Charlie Sutherland loaded the bases. Hunt lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly as Fitzgerald scored. Spanier followed with a single to center to bring home Hokenson. The Gophers held a 3-1 lead.
The Gophers added two runs in the eighth. Fitzgerald started the inning with a walk. Hokenson doubled down the line in left to put runners at second and third. Two batters later, Hunt dribbled a single through the right side to drive in both runners. Minnesota extended its lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, Maloney reached on a one-out single. Tayven Kelley bounced into a fielder's choice to replace Maloney at first. Kyle Hannon drew a pinch-hit walk. Jaconski ripped a single to right to bring home Kelley. A walk by Bobby Marsh loaded the bases. Marr lined a single to right as Hannon and Jaconski crossed the plate to bring Penn State within one, 5-4. With runners on the corners, a strikeout ended the game as the Gophers held on for the victory.
The Nittany Lions conclude the series with Minnesota on Sunday. The game begins at noon and celebrates National Superhero Day with a cape giveaway and 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.
