UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 12-4 in its series finale against Iowa on Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. After the Nittany Lions took Friday’s game, Iowa claimed Saturday and Sunday. Penn State took an early 3-0 lead, but the Hawkeyes rallied for seven runs in the fourth and held on from there.
Penn State dropped to 5-13 overall (1-2 Big Ten), while Iowa improved to 13-6 (2-1 Big Ten).
Freshman Isaiah Shayter got the ball on the mound to start for the Nittany Lions. He tossed 3.1 innings. Shayter allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits. He tallied a career-high six strikeouts and walked three.
Mason Horwat pitched to four batters, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned). Kyle Emmons threw three innings. He was charged with four runs on four hits. Emmons recorded two strikeouts and a walk. Ben DeMell threw two-thirds of an inning. Frankie Sanchez worked two innings, allowing one run and striking out two.
Maddux Frese earned the start for Iowa, working three innings. He gave up three runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out one. Kyle Alivo threw three innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks. Alivo notched five strikeouts. Tyler Guerin fired three scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Penn State recorded four runs on six hits. Michael Anderson collected three hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs. Jayden Davis added a double and two runs, while Jack Porter had an RBI single.
The Hawkeyes secured 12 runs on 13 hits. Gable Mitchell tallied four hits, including a double, and three RBI. Caleb Wulf drove in four runs with two hits, including a double. Joey Nerat homered and drove in two runs. Kooper Schulte added two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead. Jayden Davis worked a leadoff walk. Michael Anderson ripped a double to left to put runners on second and third. On a foul fly ball by Spencer Barnett, Iowa’s Joey Nerat made a ridiculous catch along the fence but allowed Davis to score on the sac fly. Jack Porter followed with a single through the left side to plate Anderson. PSU led 2-0.
Penn State added a run in the third. Leading off the inning, Davis shot a grounder down the left field line for a double. Anderson followed by lining a single to left to bring in Davis. The Nittany Lions held a 3-0 lead.
Iowa took the lead in the top of the fourth. Joey Nerat worked a leadoff walk. Kooper Schulte lined a double off the wall in center to bring in Nerat. After Max Burt was hit by a pitch, everyone was safe on a fielder’s choice by Ben Swails. A single through the right side drove in Schulte and Burt. A single by Miles Risley re-loaded the bases before Caleb Wulf snuck a double inside the first base bag to bring in Mitchell and pinch-runner Tate Slagle. After Bryce Phelps was hit by a pitch, Nerat was also hit by a pitch to allow Risley to cross the plate. A groundout by Schulte resulted in Wulf scoring. Iowa led 7-3.
The Nittany Lions cut their deficit in the fifth. Anderson was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. Barnett battled through a 10-pitch at-bat for a walk. Jack Porter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bryce Molinaro bounced into a fielder’s choice but that allowed Anderson to score. However, a strikeout and a flyout ended the inning. PSU trailed 7-4.
Iowa added four runs in the seventh. With one out, Kellen Strohmeyer drew a walk. After a single by Burt put runners on the corners, Jaixen Frost lined a single to center to plate Strohmeyer. Mitchell followed with a double to center to drive in Burt. After a walk by Risley, a single by Wulf brought in two more. Iowa pushed its lead to 11-4.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead in the eighth. Leading off the inning, Nerat lifted a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left. Iowa led 12-4.
UP NEXT
Penn State visits West Virginia on Tuesday, March 17 in Morgantown. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark with a broadcast on ESPN+.
The Nittany Lions travel to Purdue next weekend, March 20-22 for a three-game Big Ten series. Friday’s game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network at 4 p.m. while Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) will be on B1G+.
The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.