Fitzgerald Fires Seven Strong In Baseball’s 11-6 Win Over Iowa

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Redshirt senior Colin Fitzgerald tossed seven strong innings and Michael Anderson and Jesse Jaconski homered to lead Penn State baseball to an 11-6 win over Iowa in its 2026 Big Ten opener on Friday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first.

 

Penn State improved to 5-11 this season, while Iowa dropped to 11-6.

 

Colin Fitzgerald made his fifth start of the season for the Nittany Lions. He fired seven innings and into the eighth. He was charged with three runs (all scored after he left) on four hits. Fitzgerald recorded seven strikeouts and four walks.

 

Ben DeMell threw two innings, allowing three runs on five hits and walking one.

 

Jaron Bleeker started on the mound for Iowa, going 3.1 innings. He allowed six runs on four hits and five walks. Bleeker registered two strikeouts. Ganon Archer threw one inning and was charged with three runs on three hits. Cole Moore recorded the final two outs of the fifth. Brolan Frost threw 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Ty Mikkelsen got the final two outs of the eighth.

 

Penn State tallied 11 runs on 11 hits. Michael Anderson drove in three runs with a two-run homer and an RBI single. Jesse Jaconski added three RBI and a two-run homer. Bryce Molinaro collected two hits, including an RBI single and scored twice.

 

Iowa scored six runs on nine hits. Brett White had a two-run double and scored twice. Bryce Phelps added two hits and two RBI, while Caleb Wulf had two hits and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead in the first. Cohl Mercado worked a four-pitch walk to begin the frame. Michael Anderson blasted the first pitch he saw over the wall in left, sneaking it just inside the foul pole. Jayden Davis drew a walk before Bryce Molinaro was hit by a pitch. A flyout moved Davis to third before Avery Smith dropped a perfect sac bunt down the first base line to allow Davis to score. Jesse Jaconski hammered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left. Jaconski’s 425-foot homer pushed PSU’s lead to 5-0.

 

Penn State added a run in the second. With one out, Anderson was hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a groundout. Molinaro sent a single through the middle to drive in Anderson. PSU led 6-0.

 

The Nittany Lions plated three runs in the fifth. Smith started the inning with a single through the middle. Two batters later, Maddox McDonald singled to put runners on first and second. Preston Yaucher smacked a single into left to bring in Smith. A grounder by Mercado resulted in a throwing error, allowing McDonald to score. After a pitching change, Anderson lined a single to left to drive in Yaucher. Penn State extended its lead to 9-0.

 

Iowa cut its deficit in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Kyle Alivo started the inning with a single. A base knock by Gable Mitchell and a walk by Brett White loaded the bases. After a pitching change, a wild pitch allowed Alivo to score. A single to center by Caleb Wulf brought in Mitchell. Pinch-hitter Bryce Phelps knocked in White with a single to right. Iowa trailed 9-3.

 

Penn State responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Molinaro lined a single to center. Jack Porter ripped a double into the corner in left as Molinaro hustled home. Smith dropped a bunt single to put runners on the corners. A fielder’s choice by Jaconski resulted in Porter scoring. PSU pushed its lead to 11-3.

 

Iowa plated three runs in the ninth. With one out, Jaixen Frost worked a walk and Mitchell was hit by a pitch. White lined a double off the wall in center to drive in Frost and Mitchell. A single by Wulf put runners on the corners before Phelps lined a single to center to bring in White for the final 11-6 tally.

 

UP NEXT

The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

 

Sunday’s series finale is set for 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.

 

All games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.

 

The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.