UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 7-4 in the series opener against Maryland on Friday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions brought the game within a run, 4-3, in the fourth, but Maryland plated three runs between the fifth and sixth to help pull away with the victory.
Penn State is now 26-18 overall (12-13 Big Ten), while Maryland moved to 21-26 overall (7-15 Big Ten).
Due to storms rolling in after the game, the teams were only able to play the first game of their planned doubleheader. The series continues on Saturday at noon for Alumni Day and includes postgame autographs.
Sunday’s game time is to be determined.
Ryan DeSanto earned his 12th start of the season, working five innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits. DeSanto notched four strikeouts and walked three.
Ben DeMell threw one inning, giving up one runs on two hits. Matthew VanOstenbridge tossed three scoreless innings and notched five strikeouts, including three strikeouts in the ninth.
Kyle McCoy got the start for Maryland, going six innings. He gave up three runs (all unearned) on seven hits. McCoy tallied five strikeouts and walked two batters. Logan Hastings earned the save, going three innings and allowing one run.
Penn State recorded four runs on 10 hits. Paxton Kling secured two doubles, while driving in a run and scoring a run. Jack Porter had two hits. Bryce Molinaro added an RBI single, while Joe Jaconski and Derek Cease both doubled and scored.
In the fourth, Joe Jaconski stole third for Penn State’s 92nd steal as a team this season. That broke the program season steals record, previously set in 2000 (91 steals).
Maryland registered seven runs on 11 hits. Chris Hacopian had a two-run homer, while Eddie Hacopian added a solo homer among two hits. Jacob Orr smacked a solo homer and a double among three hits and scored twice.
The Terrapins plated three runs in the first. Brayden Martin reached on an infield single to start the game. Chris Hacopian lifted a fly ball over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Eddie Hacopian followed with a fly ball over the fence in left-center. Maryland led 3-0.
Maryland added a run in the third. With one out, Orr sent a line drive over the wall in left. The Terrapins held a 4-0 advantage.
Penn State cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the third. With one out, Ryan Weingartner reached on a throwing error. Kling lined a double into center, which bounced to the wall as Weingartner hustled home. Porter reached on an error to move Kling to third. Molinaro sent a single through the middle to bring home Kling. PSU trailed 4-2.
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fourth. Jaconski bounced a double over the wall in right-center. Jaconski got a strong jump off of third to record a steal. On the play, the pitcher threw back towards second and sailed the throw into the outfield, allowing Jaconski to score. Penn State trimmed its deficit to 4-3.
Maryland answered in the fifth. Alex Calarco worked a leadoff walk before Orr lined a double to left to put runners on second and third. Two batters later, Aden Hill singled through the middle to bring in Calarco. The Terrapins led 6-3.
The Terrapins added a run in the sixth. Martin reached on a leadoff single. A walk by Chris Hacopian and a bunt single by Eddie Hacopian loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Martin to score and push the Maryland lead to 7-3.
Penn State chipped away in the eighth. With one out, Cease held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk. Cohl Mercado sent a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. Weingartner lifted a fly ball to right for a sac fly to bring in Cease. Penn State trailed 7-4.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.