UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the second time this weekend, the Penn State baseball team won in walk-off fashion as the Nittany Lions earned an 11-10 win over Rutgers on Senior Day Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Penn State rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth with Joe Jaconski's single scoring Michael DiMartini for the winning run. Penn State improved to 23-22 overall and 9-12 in Big Ten play. Rutgers dropped to 27-23.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bobby Marsh started the inning by drilling a fly ball over the wall in straight-away center. Two pitches later, Grant Norris lifted a fly ball over the fence in right. The back-to-back jacks cut the deficit to 9-8. Bryce Molinaro lined a single to right, followed by a single to left by Matt Maloney. With runners on first and second, Tayven Kelley dropped down a sac bunt to move Molinaro and DiMartini, a pinch-runner, up 90 feet. A wild pitch bounced away from the catcher to allow Molinaro to score and tie the game at 9-9. Two batters later, Jaconski lined a single inside the left field line as DiMartini sprinted home.
Before the game, Penn State honored 14 seniors in its Senior Day ceremony, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association: Adam Cecere, Chic DeGaetano, Billy Gerlott, Kyle Hannon, Jaden Henline, Tayven Kelley, Carson Kohls, David Lee, Travis Luensmann, J.T. Marr, Bobby Marsh, Kevin Michaels, Grant Norris and C.J. Pittaro.
Matt Morash made his third start of the season for the Nittany Lions, going 1.2 frames. He allowed three runs on two hits and two walks. Ben DeMell worked 1.2 innings and was charged with five runs (four earned) on four hits and one walk. Mason Butash faced three batters, walking all three and one scoring. David Lee recorded the final two outs of the fourth.
Mason Horwat fired four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and struck out one. Anthony Steele collected the win, working one inning, giving up a run and striking out two.
Jake Marshall got the start for Rutgers, throwing three innings and into the fourth. He allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits. Marshall recorded two strikeouts and a walk. Ethan Bowen pitched to three batters, with two walks and a hit batter, with two runners scoring. Ben Gorski finished the fourth inning, giving up one hit. Sam Portnoy tossed 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three. Joe Mazza threw one inning, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks.
Penn State tallied 11 runs on 11 hits. Jaconski recorded two hits and drove in three runs. Norris collected three hits, including a homer, while Marsh notched two hits, including a homer, and two RBI. Matt Maloney contributed two hits, including an RBI double, and scored a run. Hannon had a double and drove in a run. Kelley and Molinaro each scored three times.
Rutgers collected 10 runs on nine hits. Cameron Love tripled and drove in three runs. Josh Kuroda-Grauer had two hits and two RBI, while Johnny Volpe added two hits and an RBI.
Penn State got on the board in the first. With two outs, Cecere worked a walk. A pickoff attempt resulted in a wild throw as Cecere was able to advance to third. Marsh chopped a single through the middle to bring home Cecere. PSU led 1-0.
Rutgers responded with three runs in the second. After Scotty Young reached on a leadoff walk, Pete Durocher bounced into a fielder's choice. Durocher stole second before a walk by Trevor Cohen and a hit-by-pitch by Jackson Natili loaded the bases. Love lifted a fly ball to right for a sac fly as Durocher scored. Volpe lined a single to right to drive in Cohen before a single by Kuroda-Grauer brought home Natili. The Scarlet Knights led 3-1.
Penn State cut into its deficit in the bottom of the second. With one out, Kelley was hit by a pitch. Hannon sent a fly ball to left-center, which bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. Jaconski bounced a grounder on the right side to bring home Kelley. PSU trailed 3-2.
Rutgers added six runs in the fourth. After Cohen reached on an error and Natili singled to put runners on first and third, a sac bunt by Love brought in Cohen. Volpe walked before a single by Kuroda-Grauer drove in Natili. Ty Doucette reached on a single to right to load the bases. After a pitching change, three consecutive walks and a hit-by-pitch brought in four runs. Rutgers extended its lead to 9-2.
Penn State got three runs back in the fourth. Molinaro reached on an error to start the frame. Maloney walked and Kelley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hannon laid off a 3-2 pitch for a walk to bring home Molinaro. After a pitching change, Jaconski sent a single into right to drive in Maloney. Marr bounced into a fielder's choice, allowing Kelley to cross the plate. The Nittany Lions trailed 9-5.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fifth. With one out, Norris shot a single through the right side. After a fielder's choice replaced Norris with Molinaro at first, Maloney lifted a fly ball to left, which bounced on the warning track for a double as Molinaro scored. PSU trimmed its deficit to 9-6.
Penn State chipped away at the deficit in the eighth. With two outs, Kelley was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Hannon and Jaconski walked. With Marr at the plate, a wild pitch bounced away from the catcher as Kelley scored. PSU trailed 9-7.
Rutgers extended its lead in the top of the ninth. Durocher was hit by a pitch to start the frame. A sac bunt by Pablo Santos moved Durocher to second. Durocher stole third before a Love fly ball to right resulted in a triple to score the runner. Rutgers pushed its lead to 10-7.
The Nittany Lions travel to take on Pittsburgh on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Charles L. Cost Field. Penn State finishes the regular season at Maryland, beginning on Thursday.
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The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Seniors