UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team improved to 9-1 on the year and earned its eighth-straight win in a 7-6 victory over FDU on Tuesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Knights scored two runs in the eighth, but Chase Renner closed out the game with a pair of strikeouts among a scoreless inning.
On its first Dollar Dog Night of the 2025 season, Penn State welcomed a home-opener record 4,049 fans, who consumed 5,960 hot dogs.
Penn State is 9-1 to start a season for the first time since 1980.
The Nittany Lions have won eight-straight games for the first time since March 26-April 6, 2016 (at Illinois, 3/26; Youngstown State, 3/29; Binghamton, 3/30; Purdue, 4/1-3; Pitt, 4/5; at Lafayette, 4/6).
Freshman Matthew VanOstenbridge got the start for the Nittany Lions, going three innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and recorded three strikeouts. He worked a 1-2-3 first inning, including a strikeout.
Harrison Lollin went two innings, allowing two runs on two hits and notched two strikeouts. Riley Weatherwax fired a shutout inning and struck out two. Will Andrews threw a scoreless frame, surrendering a walk. Carson Renner gave up two runs in one-third of an inning. Anthony Steele closed out the eighth, including a strikeout. Chase Renner picked up the save with a shutout frame and two strikeouts.
Joe Barbarino started on the mound for FDU, throwing three innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits. Barbarino registered two strikeouts and three walks. Ben Pika went one inning, giving up an unearned run. Nick Noble threw two innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits. Brian Yadlon tossed a scoreless inning. Cole Vida added a scoreless frame.
Penn State collected seven runs on seven hits. Joe Jaconski tallied two hits and two RBI. Jesse Jaconski drove in two runs, while Jack Porter had three hits, including a double. Ryan Weingartner added an RBI single and three steals.
FDU recorded six runs on eight hits. Jeremy Cheeseman had two hits, including a double and a two-run single. Felix Gonzalez added a two-run single, while Jimmy Mantuano contributed two hits, including an RBI single.
FDU got on the board in the second. With one out, Cheeseman lined a double into the right field corner. Mantuano followed with a single into center to drive in Cheeseman. The Knights led 1-0.
Penn State answered in the bottom of the second. Bryce Molinaro reached on an error to start the inning. Porter singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Jesse Jaconski lifted a fly ball to right for a sac fly to drive in Molinaro. The game was even at 1-1.
The Knights added a run in the third. Travis Stroh began the frame with a single through the middle. Stroh stole second before moving up to third on a groundout. A grounder to the left side by Johnathan Gomez allowed Stroh to score. FDU re-took the lead, 2-1.
The Nittany Lions re-claimed the lead in the bottom of the third. Weingartner held off on a 3-0 pitch for a leadoff walk. Weingartner stole second before scoring on a single through the middle by Joe Jaconski. Molinaro followed with a double to left as Jaconski hustled home. Molinaro moved up to third on a flyout before scoring on a grounder by Jesse Jaconski. PSU led 4-2.
The Knights plated two runs in the fourth. With one out, Cheeseman was hit by a pitch. A single by Mantuano put runners on the corners before Mantuano stole second. Gonzalez sent a single into left to drive in both runners and even the game at 4-4.
Penn State added a run in the fifth. Cohl Mercado worked a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a groundout. A passed ball allowed Mercado to move up to third and a throwing error on the play allowed him to race home. PSU led 5-4.
The Nittany Lions scored two runs in the sixth. Joey DeMucci reached on an error to begin the frame. Mercado was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. A double steal moved the runners to second and third. Weingartner lined a single into left to bring in DeMucci. A sac by to center by Joe Jaconski plated Mercado. Penn State held a 7-4 lead.
FDU trimmed its deficit in the eighth. Diego Urreta and Joey DiMotta were hit by pitches before a walk by Nate Dudeck loaded the bases. Cheeseman sent a single through the right side to drive in two runs. PSU led 7-6.
The Nittany Lions welcome Indiana for its Big Ten opening series on March 7-9. Friday is set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday and Sunday contests are set to start at 1 p.m.
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.