Baseball Completes Comeback For 9-8 Win Over Illinois

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team overcame a 6-0 deficit to earn a 9-8 win over Illinois on Friday night in the series opener at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions clawed back to tie the game in the fifth and six and took the lead in the eighth on a 413-foot homer by Michael Anderson.

 

Penn State improved to 8-16 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten, while Illinois dropped to 12-12 on the year and 4-6 in Big Ten play.

 

Penn State earned its first win when trailing by six or more runs into the fourth inning since an 11-10 win over Rutgers on May 12, 2024. PSU overcame a 9-2 deficit in that game.

 

Mason Horwat earned the start for the Nittany Lions, working 1.2 innings. He gave up six runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out one. Mason Butash fired 3.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit. Butash recorded three strikeouts and two walks.

 

Robert Brown III went one-third of an inning, giving up one run on three hits. Kyle Emmons earned the win, throwing 3.2 shutout frames. He allowed just one hit and two walks, while striking out four.

 

Mitch Dye got the start for Illinois, going 4.1 frames. He allowed five runs on five hits and three walks, while tallying four strikeouts. Sam Reed tossed 1.1 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits. Kyle Remington threw 2.1 innings, surrendering one run on one hit.

 

The Nittany Lions collected nine runs on 11 hits. Anderson tallied two hits, including his solo homer, two runs and two RBI. Jayden Davis recorded three hits, including a double, and three RBI. Bryce Molinaro added two hits, including a double, and two runs. Avery Smith drove in two runs.

 

Illinois tallied eight runs on eight hits. Collin Jennings drove in four runs with three hits, including a solo homer. Jack Zebig drove in two runs, while Nick Groves scored three times.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Illinois got on the board in the first. Nick Groves worked a leadoff walk. He stole second before Jack Zebig held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. A high-chopper by AJ Putty resulted in a single and the bases loaded. Collin Jennings lifted a sac fly to center to bring in Groves. Kyle Schupmann shot a grounder through the left side to plate Zebig. Illinois led 2-0.

 

The Illini added on in the second. Brayden Mazzacano worked a five-pitch walk. After a sac bunt moved Mazzacano to second, Groves drew a walk and Michael Farina was hit by a pitch. A four-pitch walk by Zebig allowed Mazzacano to score. Putty bounced into a fielder’s choice, but brought in Groves. After Putty stole second, Jennings bounced a single through the middle to bring in two runs. Illinois held a 6-0 advantage.

 

Penn State plated a pair of runs in the fourth. With one out, Bryce Molinaro lined a double off the wall in right-center. Jayden Davis smacked a triple into the corner in right to bring in Molinaro. A grounder by Avery Smith allowed Davis to score and cut the PSU deficit to 6-2.

 

Illinois responded in the fifth. Leading off the inning, Jennings launched a 3-1 pitch into the right field bleachers. The Illini extended their lead to 7-2.

 

The Nittany Lions tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Preston Yaucher reached on an infield single before Cohl Mercado lined a single to right to put runners on the corners. A sac fly to center by Michael Anderson brought in Yaucher. After a walk by Jack Porter, Spencer Barnett landed a single in right to bring in Mercado. A single by Molinaro re-loaded the bases. Davis ripped a single to center to drive in Porter. A sac fly to left by Smith allowed Barnett to score. After a walk by Maddox McDonald, a grounder by Yaucher resulted in an error and Molinaro scoring. The game was even at 7-7.

 

Illinois answered in the sixth. With one out, Groves and Farina reached on back-to-back singles. Zebig lined a single through the left side to plate Groves. Illinois led 8-7.

 

Penn State re-tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Anderson began the inning with a single to center. Molinaro worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Davis dribbled a single through the middle to plate Anderson. The game was tied at 8-8.

 

The Nittany Lions took the lead in the eighth. Leading off the inning, Anderson blasted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right-center. The 413-foot blast gave Penn State a 9-8 lead.

 

UP NEXT

The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.

 

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.