RICHMOND, Va. – The Penn State baseball team opened its weekend in Virginia with a 17-6, run-rule victory over Richmond on Friday at Pitt Field. The Nittany Lions launched three homers, including a grand slam by Paxton Kling.
Penn State (6-1) is off to its best start to a season since going 6-1 in the first seven games in 2019. Richmond dropped to 7-2.
The Nittany Lions have scored 10+ runs in each of the last four games, its first time with double-digit runs in four-straight games since April 6-12, 2024 (Northwestern, 4/6-7; FDU, 4/9; Indiana, 4/12).
Penn State has launched 16 homers through the first seven games. Since at least 2004, 16 homers are PSU’s most in the first seven games of a season, topping 10 homers in the first seven games of 2024.
Mason Horwat earned the start for Penn State, tossing five innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits. Horwat tallied one strikeout and two walks. The sophomore limited Richmond to one run through the first four innings.
Horwat’s scoreless inning streak to start the season was snapped at 12.2 innings with a run on a fielder’s choice in the second.
Dimond Loosli fired a scoreless inning and struck out two. Harrison Lollin finished the game, going one inning and allowing two runs.
Esteban Rodriguez started on the mound for Richmond, going one inning and pitching into the second. He gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks. Glenn Smith went 1.2 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits, while walking three and striking out two. Jackson Kraemer threw 1.1 scoreless frames before Paul Witkop took over. Witkop went one inning, giving up an unearned run. Sam Young threw one inning, giving up a run and a hit. Dane Armson went one-third of an inning, giving up five runs and Hugh Hill threw two-thirds of a frame, giving up two runs.
The Nittany Lions plated 17 runs on 13 hits. Paxton Kling launched a grand slam to go with three runs. Ryan Weingartner collected three hits, with a triple and a solo homer, two RBI and four runs to go with two steals. Nate Voss blasted a three-run homer. Bryce Molinaro drove in three runs, while Joe Jaconski had a double and two RBI.
Kling has homered in each of the last four games, the first Nittany Lion with a homer in four-straight games since Adam Cecere on April 9-14, 2024 (vs. FDU, at Indiana).
Richmond recorded six runs on 11 hits. Jordan Jaffe collected three hits, including a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs. Jack Arcamone had a double among three hits and an RBI.
Penn State got on the board in the first. Kling was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Weingartner lined a single to left to put runners on the corners. Joe Jaconski ripped a ground-rule double to right-center to bring in Kling. A grounder to the left side by Molinaro allowed Weingartner to score. After a walk by Cole Wagner, a single to right by Matt Maloney drove in Jaconski. PSU led 3-0.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the second. After a leadoff walk by Kling, Weingartner reached on a fielder’s choice. Weingartner stole second and went to third on a throwing error. The junior scored on a sac by Joe Jaconski to extend the PSU lead to 4-0.
Richmond answered with a run in the bottom half. Arcamone started the frame with a single through the middle. A single by Brady O’Brien put runners at first and second. Michael Elko drew a walk to load the bases. Cole Palmeri chopped a grounder to the left side, resulting in a fielder’s choice but allowing Arcamone to cross the plate. The Nittany Lions held a 4-1 lead.
Penn State extended its lead in the third. Wagner led off the inning with a single to right. Jack Porter worked a walk to put two runners on. Two batters later, Voss crushed the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center. Voss’ three-run shot went 379 feet and gave PSU a 7-1 lead. Jesse Jaconski reached on a single and went to second on a throwing error. Weingartner walked and Joe Jaconski walked to load the bases. Molinaro held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk to allow Jesse Jaconski to score. PSU led 8-1.
Penn State added a run in the fifth. Weingartner reached on an error to start the inning. He stole second before moving to third on a flyout to right. Molinaro followed with a single to center to bring home Weingartner. The Nittany Lions held a 9-1 lead.
Richmond responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Aaron Whitley started the inning with a single and stole second. After Phil Bernstein walked, Jaffe singled to drive in Whitley. Arcamone followed with a single into left to bring home Bernstein. Two batters later, Joey Wilga reached on an infield single while Jaffe scored. The Spiders cut their deficit to 9-4.
Penn State answered with a run in the sixth. With two outs, Kling worked a walk. Weingartner lasered a triple off the wall in center as Kling hustled home. PSU led 10-4.
The Nittany Lions added seven runs in the seventh. Molinaro and Wagner walked to start the inning before Molinaro scored on a single by Porter. A walk by Maloney loaded the bases and a walk by Derek Cease allowed Porter to score. Kling launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for a grand slam, a 426-foot shot. PSU went back-to-back as Weingartner blasted a homer to left. Weingartner’s 388-foot blast put PSU ahead, 17-4.
Richmond scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh. After a single by Bernstein, Jaffe lifted a fly ball over the wall in center to cut the Spiders’ deficit to 17-6.
The Nittany Lions take on VCU on Saturday at 2 p.m. and William & Mary on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.