MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Penn State baseball team claimed a 10-4 win in its series opener at Minnesota on Friday afternoon at Siebert Field. The Nittany Lions were boosted by a strong start by Ryan DeSanto, who went six innings and gave up one run. Jesse Jaconski and Cole Wagner homered as Penn State improved to 19-10 overall (7-6 Big Ten). Minnesota dropped to 11-15 overall (2-8 Big Ten).
Penn State tallied 10+ runs for the 17th time this season and the seventh time against a Big Ten opponent. In program history, PSU has posted 17 games of 10+ runs in a season on two previous occasions (1998, 2000).
Ryan DeSanto made his eighth start of the year for the Nittany Lions, firing six strong innings. He allowed just one run on three hits. The junior struck out four batters and walked two. DeSanto retired eight-straight between the first and fourth innings.
DeSanto’s first strikeout of the day was his 200th career strikeout.
Dimond Loosli threw one inning, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out two. Anthony Steele struck out the side in the eighth before Harrison Lollin pitched the ninth inning, giving up one run.
Cole Selvig got the start for Minnesota, tossing 6.1 innings. He gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He posted 10 strikeouts and walked two batters. Eli Sundquist recorded one out and walked two batters. Will Whelan allowed five runs (four earned) on two hits over two-thirds of an inning. Joe Sperry went 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three.
Penn State collected 10 runs on 11 hits. Cole Wagner led PSU with a two-run triple and a two-run homer. Jesse Jaconski added three hits, including a solo homer and an RBI double. Paxton Kling contributed two hits and drove in two runs. Mike Lucarelli had a hit and scored twice.
Minnesota notched four runs on seven hits. Jameson Martin and Weber Neels each had a solo homer. Josh Fitzgerald contributed two doubles and an RBI, while Parker Knoll had an RBI double.
The Gophers got a run in the first. With two outs, Drew Berkland worked a walk. Fitzgerald lined a 3-2 pitch into the corner in right for a double as Berkland hustled home. Minnesota led 1-0.
Penn State answered with two runs in the second. Jack Porter chopped a grounder to the left side and reached on an error. Wagner blasted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right. Wagner’s 361-foot homer put PSU ahead, 2-1.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fifth. Jaconski lined a leadoff single to left and then stole second. A grounder down the left line by Ryan Weingartner stayed fair for an infield single to put runners on first and third. Kling delivered a single to center to drive in Jaconski. Penn State led 3-1.
Penn State plated a run in the sixth. With two outs, Joe Jaconski struck out but a wild pitch on strike three allowed Jaconski to reach first. Jesse Jaconski followed with a double down the left field line as Joe hustled home. PSU extended its lead to 4-1.
PSU added to its lead in the seventh. Lucarelli placed a perfect bunt single down the left line to begin the frame. Weingartner held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. On a pickoff play, Weingartner was tagged out but Lucarelli moved up to third. After a walk by Bryce Molinaro, a single to left by Jack Porter brought in Lucarelli. Penn State held a 5-1 advantage.
Minnesota trimmed its deficit in the bottom of the seventh. Neels launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Kris Hokensen singled through the middle. Knoll doubled off the wall in left-center as Hokensen raced home. PSU still led, 5-3.
Penn State responded with five runs in the eighth. Jesse Jaconski started the frame by launching an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left-center. Nate Voss followed with a single to left and Lucarelli was hit by a pitch before a fly out to center by Weingartner allowed the runners to move to second and third. A fly ball to right by Kling resulted in a sac fly but was dropped as DeMucci scored and Lucarelli hustled to third. After a walk by Molinaro, a passed ball allowed Lucarelli to cross the plate. Wagner lined a triple to the corner in right to bring in Kling and Molinaro and push PSU’s lead to 10-3.
Minnesota got a run in the ninth on a solo homer to left by Martin to cut its deficit to 10-4.
The Nittany Lions continue the series with the Gophers on Saturday at 4 p.m. and conclude the series on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.