UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Grant Norris sent a line drive into the right-center gap as Kyle Hannon hustled home from first for a walk-off victory as the Penn State baseball team took the series opener, 7-6, over Rutgers on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions took a 6-4 lead into the ninth, but Rutgers tied the game in the top half before the dramatic finish. Penn State improved to 22-21 overall and 8-11 in Big Ten play. Rutgers is now 26-22 on the year.
After entering the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth, Hannon led off the bottom of the ninth. The senior worked a 3-2 count before sending a line drive into right for a single. After Norris took ball one, Hannon was off on the second pitch as Norris swatted a line drive into the right-center gap. Hannon rounded third, as the centerfielder picked up the ball, and easily beat the throw home for the winning run.
Travis Luensmann made the start for the Nittany Lions, tossing 5.2 innings. He gave up four runs on six hits. Luensmann tallied four strikeouts and four walks.
Mason Horwat tossed three innings and was charged with two runs on five hits and struck out two. Anthony Steele faced two batters and allowed one hit.
Sonny Fauci started for Rutgers, going 3.1 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits. Fauci recorded four strikeouts and three walks. Joe Mazza threw 2.2 frames, allowing one hit and no runs, while striking out four. Ben Gorski allowed three runs on four hits over 1.1 innings. Sam Portnoy recorded the final two outs of the eighth. Jake Marshall faced two batters, allowing two hits and a run.
Penn State collected seven runs on 15 hits. Bryce Molinaro launched two solo homers, his second multi-homer game of the season, and stole a base. Tayven Kelley added an RBI triple and scored a run. J.T. Marr had three hits, including an RBI single, while Matt Maloney tallied three hits and scored a run. Kevin Michaels added two hits, including an RBI double.
Kelley recorded his 13th career triple to move into a tie for second all-time at Penn State with Kevin Billotte (1995-98). Kelley is two triples behind the record held by Sean Deegan (2009-12).
Marr notched his 23rd multi-hit game of the year and ninth game with three or more hits.
Rutgers registered six runs on 12 hits. Ty Doucette drove in three runs and added a double. Pete Durocher had three hits, including a double and a triple, and an RBI. Cameron Love collected two hits and scored twice.
Rutgers got on the board in the top of the third. Trevor Cohen worked a walk before moving to second on a sac bunt. Cameron Love held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. Josh Kuroda-Grauer reached on an infield single to load the bases. Doucette sent a grounder through the left side to bring in Cohen and Love. Tony Santa Maria followed with a single to left to drive in Kuroda-Grauer. Rutgers led 3-0.
Penn State answered with a run in the bottom half. Michaels led off the inning with a single to left. Joe Jaconski drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Marr lined a single to the left-center gap to drive in Michaels. PSU trailed 3-1.
The Nittany Lions tied the game in the fourth. With one out, Molinaro lifted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center for his eighth homer of the year. Maloney bounced a single through the middle before Kelley worked a four-pitch walk. Michaels ripped a double to the wall in left to bring in Maloney. The game was even at 3-3.
Rutgers re-took the lead in the fifth. Love started the inning with a single through the middle. Johnny Volpe lined a single to right before a sac bunt moved the runners to second and third. Doucette grounded out to the right side, but the play allowed Love to score. The Scarlet Knights led 4-3.
In the eighth, Molinaro led off the frame by sending the first pitch over the wall in left. His second homer of the night tied the game at 4-4. Maloney followed with a single up the middle. Kelley ripped a line drive to the corner in left, which bounced off the wall and towards center as Kelley hustled to third for a triple and pinch-runner Michael DiMartini scored. Penn State led 6-4.
Rutgers answered in the top of the ninth. With one out, Santa Maria reached on an infield single. Two batters later, Durocher sent a line drive to left for a triple as Santa Maria scored. Cohen lined a single through the left side to bring in Durocher and tie the game at 6-6.
The series between the Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Little League Day and ALS Awareness Day and includes postgame autographs. Sunday's Senior Day game is set for 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
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.
Bryce Molinaro launched two homers