COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State baseball team showed off its power with three homers in an 8-4 series-opening win over Maryland on Thursday at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. The Nittany Lions scored in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to build a 7-1 lead and held on for the victory. Penn State moved to 24-23 overall and 10-12 in Big Ten play, while Maryland dropped to 34-20 overall and 10-12 in conference action.
Due to forecasted rain on Saturday, the Nittany Lions and Terrapins will finish the series with a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
Travis Luensmann made the start for the Nittany Lions, firing five innings and pitched into the sixth. He gave up four runs on five hits. Luensmann recorded four strikeouts and six walks. He allowed one run through his first five innings.
Mason Horwat picked up his second save of the year with four shutout innings. He allowed two hits and struck out one. Horwat worked 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth.
Omar Melendez got the start for Maryland, going four innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits. Melendez tallied four strikeouts and two walks. Kenny Lippman worked one inning, allowing two runs on two hits. Trystan Sarcone gave up three runs on three hits over one inning. Alex Walsh allowed one run on two hits and four walks in three innings of work.
Penn State collected eight runs on 13 hits. Kevin Michaels tallied three hits, including a solo homer, two RBI and two runs. Adam Cecere added a double and a three-run homer, while scoring twice. Matt Maloney recorded three hits, including a solo homer.
With a single in the third, J.T. Marr notched his 80th hit of the season. Marr is the first Nittany Lion with 80+ hits in a season since Jordan Steranka's 82 hits in 2012. Marr's single was also hit 199th career hit.
Maryland registered four runs on seven hits. Jacob Orr hit a two-run homer, while Chris Hacopian added a solo shot.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the third. Leading off the inning, Michaels launched a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left. His second homer of the season gave PSU a 1-0 lead.
Maryland answered in the bottom half. Chris Hacopian blasted a leadoff homer to left. The game was even at 1-1.
Penn State re-took the lead in the top of the fourth. Tayven Kelley reached on an error to start the inning. Maloney lined a single to right to put runners on first and second. Michaels shot a grounder through the left side as Kelley hustled home. PSU led 2-1.
The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the fifth. Cecere drew a leadoff walk. Grant Norris ripped a single through the left side to put runners on first and second. Bryce Molinaro followed with a single to right-center to drive in Cecere. After Molinaro stole second, Bobby Marsh lifted a sac fly to center to bring in Norris from third. Penn State held a 4-1 lead.
Penn State added three runs in the sixth. Michaels tallied his third hit of the day with a leadoff single. Joe Jaconski reached on an infield single. Two batters later, Cecere launched a fly ball over the right-center fence. The three-run homer pushed PSU's lead to 7-1.
Maryland responded in the bottom of the sixth. Kevin Keister drew a walk to begin the frame. A line drive by Orr cleared the fence in left-center for a two-run homer. The inning continued as Michael Iannazzo singled and Devin Russell walked. A sac bunt by Elijah Lambros moved the runners to second and third before Eddie Hacopian lined a single to center to bring home Iannazzo. Penn State's lead was trimmed to 7-4.
Penn State added a run in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Maloney blasted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right. The solo blast gave the Blue and White an 8-4 lead.
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The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
PSU celebrates Kevin Michaels' homer in the third