ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Penn State baseball team dropped an 8-7 decision at Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium. The Nittany Lions climbed back into the game with four runs in the fifth and one in the seventh but could not complete the comeback. Penn State is now 17-9 overall (6-5 Big Ten), while Michigan improved to 14-12 overall (6-5 Big Ten).
Mason Horwat made the start for Penn State, going 3.2 innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits and walk. Matthew VanOstenbridge worked 1.1 scoreless frames and struck out one, retiring all four batters he faced. Anthony Steele tossed three shutout frames and struck out five.
Dylan Vigue got the start for Michigan, going four innings. He gave up four runs (two earned) on three hits. Vigue tallied four strikeouts and walked five batters. Tate Carey allowed both runners he faced to reach and eventually score. Will Rogers threw the final five innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out five.
The Nittany Lions tallied seven runs on six hits and seven walks. Cole Wagner collected two hits, including a three-run double. Paxton Kling and Matt Maloney each contributed a hit and an RBI, while Jack Porter had an RBI single and scored twice.
The Wolverines recorded eight runs on 12 hits. Brayden Jefferis tallied four hits, while driving in two runs and scoring twice. Mitch Voit contributed three hits, including a double, and two RBI. Jeter Ybarra added a two-run homer.
Michigan got on the board in the first. Benny Casillas lined a leadoff double off the wall in left-center. Jefferis followed with a single to left-center to bring in Casillas and put the Wolverines ahead, 1-0.
Penn State took the lead in the top of the second. Wagner worked a leadoff walk before Jesse Jaconski reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Maloney hit a sharp grounder through the left side to bring in Wagner. After a fielder’s choice left runners at first and second, Ryan Weingartner drew a walk to load the bases. Kling lifted a sac fly to right to bring in Maloney. PSU led 2-1.
Michigan answered with three runs in the bottom half. After Casillas was hit by a pitch, Jefferis reached on a fielder’s choice. A double by Voit allowed Jefferis to hustle home. Two batters later, Ybarra lifted a fly ball over the wall in right. The Wolverines held a 4-2 lead.
The Wolverines added four runs in the fourth. Matt Spear drew a walk to start the frame. Rogers followed with a single to left to put runners on the corners. Jonathan Kim lined a single to center to bring in Spear. A sac bunt moved Rogers and Kim to second and third. Jefferis bounced a single through the middle to score Rogers and Voit hit a sharp single through the left side to bring in Kim. After a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, Colby Turner bounced into a groundout but allowed Jefferis to cross the plate. Michigan led 8-2.
Penn State answered with four runs in the fifth. Kling and Joe Jaconski worked back-to-back walks to leadoff the frame. After a pitching change, Molinaro held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk to load the bases. Porter lined a single to right to drive in Kling. After another pitching change, Wagner roped a double to the left-center gap to clear the bases. Penn State trailed 8-6.
The Nittany Lions cut the deficit again in the seventh. With one out, Porter worked a walk and Wagner singled to put runners on first and third. Jesse Jaconski lifted a sac fly to left to bring in Porter. Penn State trimmed its deficit to 8-7.
Penn State concludes the series with the Wolverines on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.
All home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.