WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Penn State baseball team fell 12-7 at Purdue on Friday afternoon at Alexander Field. The Boilermakers were helped by four Nittany Lion errors, leading to six unearned runs.
The Nittany Lions dropped to 5-14 overall (1-3 Big Ten), while Purdue improved to 13-6 on the season (4-3 Big Ten).
Colin Fitzgerald earned the start on the mound for the Nittany Lions, tossing five innings. He gave up nine runs (three earned) on nine hits. Fitzgerald struck out five batters and walked none. Fitzgerald struck out the side in the first, including his 200th career strikeout.
Frankie Sanchez worked two innings, surrendering two runs on four hits. He tallied one strikeout and two walks. Robert Brown III allowed one run on two hits over one inning.
Cole Van Assen made the start for Purdue, working five innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. Van Assen recorded two strikeouts and one walk. Thomas Howard tossed two innings, giving up a run on three hits. Noah Filer gave up four runs over two-thirds of an inning. Jackson Greer closed out the eighth. Trevor Kester-Johns walked the only batter he faced before Jacob Borland threw a shutout ninth.
Penn State recorded seven runs on 12 hits. Cohl Mercado notched three hits, including a three-run double and a solo homer, to tie a career high with four RBI. Michael Anderson added a solo homer, while Bryce Molinaro had two hits and a run.
Purdue tallied 12 runs on 15 hits. Aaron Manias launched two homers among three hits, recording three RBI and three runs. Dylan Drake contributed a double and a triple, while driving in two runs. Ali Banks added two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Boilermakers got on the board in the third, helped by multiple errors. With one out, Westin Boyle reached on a fielding error. Brandon Rogers followed with a single through the left side. A double steal moved the runners up to second and third. Ali Banks sent a grounder through the left side to bring in Boyle. After a steal by Banks, a fly ball by Eli Anderson landed in center field and was kicked to allow Rogers and Banks to cross the plate. With two outs, Aaron Manias launched a fly ball over the wall in right to push the Purdue lead to 5-0.
Penn State got a run back in the top of the fourth. Spencer Barnett worked a five-pitch walk to begin the frame. With two outs, Jack Porter and Avery Smith were hit by pitches to load the bases. Jesse Jaconski chopped a grounder to the left side and Porter beat a throw to third to allow Barnett to score. PSU trailed 5-1.
Purdue added a run in the bottom half of the fourth. With one out, Dylan Drake lined a double to center. Two batters later, Rogers sent a grounder through the middle to bring in Drake. Purdue led 6-1.
Penn State chipped away again in the fifth. Leading off the inning, Cohl Mercado lifted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right. The 350-foot homer cut the Purdue lead to 6-2.
Purdue responded in the bottom of the fifth. A fly ball to left by Anderson was mishandled as he hustled to second. Sam Flores lined a double to right-center to bring in Anderson. After a single by Manias put runners at the corners, a single by CJ Richmond brought in Flores. A sac bunt moved the runners to second and third before Manias scored on a groundout. Purdue held a 9-2 advantage.
The Nittany Lions got a run in the seventh. With two outs, Michael Anderson smoked a line drive off the scoreboard in left. The 420-foot, 113 mph homer cut the PSU deficit to 9-3.
The Boilermakers added on in the seventh. Jackson Bessette sent a single into left. Drake lined a triple to the left-center gap as Bessette hustled home. A fielder’s choice brought home Drake to expand Purdue’s lead to 11-3.
Penn State plated four runs in the eighth. After a walk by Jayden Davis and a single by Bryce Molinaro, pinch-hitter Justin Turcovski worked a two-out walk. Preston Yaucher was hit by a pitch to bring in Davis. Mercado snuck a sharp grounder inside the first base bag and hustled to second for a double to clear the bases. The Nittany Lions trailed 11-7.
Purdue tallied a run in the bottom of the eighth on a solo homer by Manias. The Boilermakers extended their lead to 12-7.
UP NEXT
The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m. and concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
Penn State hosts a pair of midweek games. The Nittany Lions take on St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. on Dollar Dog Night and Bucknell on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m.
The Nittany Lions welcome Illinois for a three-game Big Ten series next weekend. 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.