UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned two wins over St. Bonaventure on Friday night in Fall Ball action. The Nittany Lions claimed a 5-4 win in game one and a 3-2 victory in game two in a pair of seven-inning games.
The Nittany Lions continue Fall Ball games next Friday, September 27, hosting Team Ontario at 5 p.m. Penn State finishes its Fall slate on Saturday, October 19 against Bucknell at 5 p.m.
Both games are open to the public and free admission.
In game one, Mason Horwat got the start for the Nittany Lions, working a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout. Matthew VanOstenbridge worked a perfect second inning before Dimond Loosli came in for a 1-2-3 third inning with two strikeouts.
Sean Williams threw in the fourth inning before Will Andrews tossed a scoreless fifth, including a strikeout. Chase Renner struck out three in the sixth before Connor Throneberry worked the seventh.
Penn State plated five runs on three hits and seven walks. Jesse Jaconski had a two-run double and a walk. Bryce Molinaro and Cohl Mercado each had a hit and an RBI.
In the first inning, PSU scored four runs. Mercado led off with a single before stealing second and moving to third on an error. After a walk by Joe Jaconski, a single by Molinaro drove in Mercado. A walk by Cole Wagner loaded the bases before a groundout by Matt Maloney allowed Jaconski to score. A double to left by Jesse Jaconski brought home Molinaro and Wagner.
After the Bonnies tied the game in the top of the seventh, Jesse Jaconski and Mike Lucarelli started the bottom half with back-to-back walks. Joey DeMucci laid down a sac bunt to put runners on second and third before a walk by Derek Cease loaded the bases. Mercado was hit by a pitch as Jaconski scored the game’s winning run.
In game two, the Penn State pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts.
Logan Olson started for Penn State, throwing a scoreless frame and striking out one. Anthony Steele fired a scoreless second inning, racking up three strikeouts. Riley Weatherwax worked the third inning, striking out two and not allowing a run.
Mason Butash pitched in the fourth inning, recording three strikeouts. Ben DeMell struck out the side in the fifth. After Carson Renner struck out two in a scoreless sixth, Will Perkowski tallied a pair of punch outs in a scoreless seventh.
Penn State collected three runs on six hits. Wagner had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Jesse Jaconski added two hits and a walk. Jack Messina contributed an RBI single and scored a run.
Penn State scored a run in the third inning. Messina drew a leadoff walk before reaching third on a single by Jake Haarde. After Haarde stole second, Joe Jaconski chopped a grounder to the right side to allow Messina to score.
The Nittany Lions plated a run in the fourth. Wagner led off the frame with a double off the wall in right. Jesse Jaconski drew a walk before a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Another wild pitch allowed Wagner to cross the plate.
Entering the bottom of the seventh tied at 2-2, Penn State started the inning with back-to-back walks by Brendan Gardner and Tyler Rowling. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Messina ripped a 1-1 pitch through the right side to drive in Gardner for the winning run.
The 2024-25 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.