UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After Xavier tied the game in the top of the eighth, Matt Maloney launched a go-ahead homer in the bottom half of the inning to propel the Penn State baseball team to a 7-6 win over the Musketeers on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Penn State improved to 31-21 overall, while Xavier fell to 30-25.
The Nittany Lions picked up their seventh series win of the season and clinched their ninth winning weekend.
Logan Olson made his 10th start of the year for the Nittany Lions, working three innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. He notched four strikeouts and walked two batters. Olson recorded two strikeouts in the third.
Matthew VanOstenbridge tossed three innings, giving up one run on four hits. He secured three strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Before allowing a run in the sixth, VanOstenbridge had gone 11 scoreless innings in his last five outings.
Mason Horwat threw one inning and was charged with three runs on four hits. Will Andrews finished the game with two shutout innings and struck out two to pick up the win.
Ryan Piech got the start for Xavier, going two innings. He allowed no runs and just one hit. He tallied three strikeouts and a walk. Nick Boyle threw three innings, giving up four runs on four hits. He had one strikeout and two walks. Luke Hoskins allowed two runs over two innings. Jake Hooker threw one inning and allowed one run.
Penn State plated seven runs on seven hits. Maloney collected two hits, including his go-ahead homer. Jesse Jaconski contributed three hits, including a double, and four RBI. Paxton Kling added a two-run homer and scored three times. Joe Jaconski had a hit and scored twice.
Kling’s 13th homer of the year tied him for seventh in a season at PSU with Adam Beers (13; 1998), Shawn Fagan (13; 1999), Dan Beers (13; 1999), Chris Wright (13; 2001) and teammate Bryce Molinaro (13; 2025).
Ryan Weingartner drew his 41st walk of the season to move into a tie for fifth at Penn State with Thomas Bramley (41; 2023). Weingartner also became the first Nittany Lion to record 30 steals in a season.
The Musketeers scored six runs on 12 hits. Aedan Anderson had three hits and drove in two runs. Connor Misch recorded three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Isaac Wachsmann added two hits and two RBI.
Xavier got on the board in the second. Misch and Clay Burdette worked back-to-back walks to begin the inning. Wachsmann sent a single through the left side to bring in Misch. The single was misplayed in left to allow Burdette to cross the plate. The Musketeers led 2-0.
Penn State tied the game in the third. With one out, Joe Jaconski smacked a single into right. He moved up to second on a wild pitch before Kling worked a walk. Two batters later, Jesse Jaconski sent a line drive to the warning track in center for a double as Joe and Kling scored. The game was even at 2-2.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the fifth. Joe Jaconski held off on a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff walk. Kling launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left. Kling’s 13th homer of the year put PSU ahead, 4-2.
Xavier got a run back in the top of the sixth. Misch bounced a fly ball off the warning track in left-center for a ground-rule double. With two outs, Anderson lined a single to left to bring in Misch. PSU still led, 4-3.
Penn State added two runs in the seventh. Mike Lucarelli drew a leadoff walk. Kling was hit by a pitch. A flyout moved Lucarelli up to third. Jesse Jaconski roped a single to left-center as Lucarelli and Kling hustled home. The Nittany Lions extended their lead to 6-3.
The Musketeers tied the game in the top of the eighth. Misch and Burdette started the inning with back-to-back singles, resulting in runners on the corners. A swinging bunt by Wachsmann allowed Misch to cross the plate. A single through the middle by Anderson brought home Burdette and moved Wachsmann to third. A wild pitch allowed Wachsmann to score and even the game at 6-6.
In the bottom of the eighth, with one out, Maloney launched an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right. Maloney’s 418-foot blast put PSU ahead, 7-6.
Saturday’s Senior Day game is set to start at 1 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions are set to honor 12 seniors in a pregame ceremony.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.