UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team set the tone with six runs in the first inning on its way to a 14-3, run-rule win over Bucknell on Tuesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Bryce Molinaro launched two homers, totaling three runs, and Paxton Kling added a two-run homer. Penn State moved to 18-10 overall, while Bucknell dropped to 11-16.
On Dollar Dog Night, Penn State welcomed 2,752 fans, who consumed 4,429 hot dogs. Across four Dollar Dog Nights this season, PSU fans have eaten 24,628 hot dogs.
Penn State tallied 10+ runs for the 16th time this season. In program history, PSU has posted 16 games of 10+ runs in a season on four previous occasions (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000).
Nittany Lion pitchers totaled 11 strikeouts over seven innings.
Skip Shenosky got the start for the Nittany Lions, throwing three innings. He allowed two runs on five hits. Shenosky tallied two strikeouts and walked four batters. Mason Butash fired two innings, allowing one run on one hit and notching five strikeouts.
Riley Weatherwax worked a scoreless inning and recorded two strikeouts. Connor Throneberry finished the game with a shutout inning and two strikeouts.
Samuel Janik made the start for Bucknell, going one-third of an inning. He gave up six runs on two hits and two walks. AJ Murray worked 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out four. Frankie Bilecki threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks. Bryce Mitchell gave up one run over two-thirds of an inning. Brady Swenson threw two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Ethan Firestein was charged with one run and three walks before Dylan Radtke finished the sixth.
Penn State tallied 14 runs on seven hits to go with 11 walks and five hit-by-pitches. All 10 Nittany Lions who got a plate appearance reached base. Bryce Molinaro launched two homers, totaling three RBI, scored four times and stole a base. Paxton Kling blasted a two-run homers and scored twice. Jesse Jaconski had two doubles, while driving in three runs. Mike Lucarelli got his first career hit and RBI.
Ryan Weingartner recorded two steals to bring his season total to 21. He now ranks seventh in a season at PSU and on the night surpassed Doug Keener (20; 1985), O.J. McDuffie (20; 1990), Michael Campo (20; 2000) and Greg Guers (20; 2016).
Bucknell notched three runs on seven hits. Michael Trommer had two hits and an RBI. Ryan Facinelli and Billy Fulharty each drove in a run.
The Bison got on the board in the top of the first. With two outs, Billy Kender held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. Trommer followed with a single to right. A single by Facinelli drove in Kender to put Bucknell ahead, 1-0.
Penn State answered with six runs in the bottom half. Weingartner worked a leadoff walk and stole second. Kling launched an 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye for a 420-foot, two-run homer. Molinaro and Jack Porter were hit by pitches and Cole Wagner walked to load the bases. Joe Jaconski chopped a grounder to the right side to bring in Molinaro. Jaconski followed with a double to left to drive in Porter and Wagner. Jaconski stole third before scoring on a sac fly to right by Joey DeMucci. The Nittany Lions led 6-1.
Bucknell added a run in the second. John Calabrese started the frame with a single to center and moved up to second on a groundout. Fluharty lined a single to left to drive in Calabrese and cut the Bison deficit to 6-2.
The Nittany Lions responded with two runs in the bottom of the second. After Kling was hit by a pitch, Molinaro smacked a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left. Molinaro’s 399-foot blast put PSU ahead, 8-2.
Bucknell plated a run in the fourth. Brady Karp worked a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a wild pitch. A single to right-center by Trommer drove in Karp. PSU still led, 8-3.
Penn State added four runs in the fourth. After Molinaro walked and Wagner was hit by a pitch, a double steal resulted in Wagner on second and Molinaro scoring on an error. Jaconski lined a double to left to bring in Wagner. DeMucci worked a walk before Lucarelli smacked a single into right to bring home Jaconski. As Lucarelli stole second, an overthrow on the play allowed DeMucci to cross the plate. PSU held a 12-3 advantage.
The Nittany Lions plated a run in the fifth on a solo homer by Molinaro. Leading off the inning, the redshirt sophomore launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right. The 411-foot shot extended PSU’s lead to 13-3.
PSU got another run in the sixth. Lucarelli worked a leadoff walk before Weingartner drew a walk. After a walk by Derek Cease to load the bases, Molinaro bounced into a double play but allowed Lucarelli to score. Penn State led 14-3.
The Nittany Lions travel to Minnesota this weekend for a three-game Big Ten series, beginning on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.