Baseball Captures Dollar Dog Night Victory Over St. Bonaventure

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned an 8-6 win over St. Bonaventure on Tuesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Bryce Molinaro hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh and the Nittany Lions held on for the victory.

 

Penn State improved to 7-15 overall, while St. Bonaventure dropped to 5-17.

 

On Dollar Dog Night, 2,443 Penn State fans braved chilly temperatures and consumed 6,350 hot dogs. Since 2023, PSU fans have eaten 80,851 hot dogs over 16 Dollar Dog Nights. PSU owns an 11-5 record on Dollar Dog Nights.

 

Frankie Sanchez made the start for the Nittany Lions, going 3.2 innings. He allowed five runs on six hits. Sanchez secured three strikeouts and no walks. Mason Horwat tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and no walks, while striking out four batters.

 

Matthew VanOstenbridge allowed one run (unearned) on one hit over two-thirds of an inning. Robert Brown III earned his first career win after firing 2.1 shutout frames and recording three strikeouts.

 

Tristan Ciampa got the start for St. Bonaventure, working two innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking two. Jack Kelly tossed two innings, giving up two runs on two hits. Eamon Giblin worked 1.1 shutout innings, allowing three hits and a walk. Mark Holm gave up two runs in 1.1 frames. Ryan Kucy surrendered two runs over two-thirds of an inning before Joey Calabretti got the final two outs of the eighth.

 

Penn State collected eight runs on 14 hits. Molinaro went three-for-three with a homer and three RBI. Avery Smith added two hits, including a two-run homer. Cohl Mercado and Michael Anderson each had two hits and drove in a run, while Jayden Davis doubled and scored. Maddox McDonald contributed two hits, a run and a steal.

 

Molinaro’s homer was the 30^th of his Nittany Lion career. He is now tied with Michael Campo (1997-00) and Chris Wright (1999-02) for fifth all-time at Penn State. He is the first Nittany Lion to reach 30+ homers since Jordan Steranka (32) in 2009-12.

 

Molinaro also moved into eighth on PSU’s all-time RBI list. He owns 123 career RBI, moving past Lance Thompson (121; 2003-06).

 

St. Bonaventure tallied six runs on eight hits. Antonio Cordeiro had a two-run homer, while Anthony Fernandez recorded two doubles and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Nittany Lions got on the board in the first. With two outs, Jack Porter held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. Spencer Barnett worked a walk to put runners at first and second. Bryce Molinaro smacked a single into right to drive in Porter and give PSU a 1-0 lead.

 

Penn State added on in the second. Jayden Davis began the frame with a double off the warning track in left-center. With two outs, Preston Yaucher dropped a single into right-center to bring in Davis. PSU led 2-0.

 

The Bonnies took the lead in the fourth. With one out, Anthony Fernandez landed a double on the warning track in center. After Fernandez moved to third on a wild pitch, Antonio Cordeiro lifted a fly ball over the wall in left. Christian LaMothe followed with a double off the wall in right. A double to center by Alex Hebenstreit brought in LaMothe before a double to left by Joey Calabretti brought in Hebenstreit. After a pitching change, Gavin Constantine sent a single into right to drive in Calabretti. St. Bonaventure held a 5-2 lead.

 

Penn State responded in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Molinaro worked a six-pitch walk. Two batters later, Avery Smith blasted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left. Smith’s two-run homer cut the PSU deficit to 5-4.

 

St. Bonaventure added a run in the seventh. With two outs, Chris Hoalcraft reached on an error. He stole second before scoring on a double to right by Fernandez. SBU pushed its lead to 6-4.

 

The Nittany Lions took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Cohl Mercado reached on a bunt single and moved up to second on a throwing error. A single to center by Michael Anderson brought in Mercado. With two outs, Molinaro launched a 426-homer over the wall in left to give PSU a 7-6 advantage.

 

Penn State plated a run in the eighth. Maddox McDonald chopped a single to begin the frame. He stole second before moving to third on a flyout by Yaucher. A single to right by Mercado brought home McDonald. PSU pushed its lead to 8-6.

 

UP NEXT

Penn State hosts Bucknell on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

 

The Nittany Lions welcome Illinois for a three-game Big Ten series next weekend.

Friday is set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday is slated to start at 2 p.m. and Sunday is set for an 11 a.m. start.

 

Saturday features a White Out, encouraging fans to wear white, and postgame autographs. Sunday includes postgame kids run the bases.

 

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