UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team fell 16-5 in seven innings against Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The series is even at 1-1 heading into Sunday’s finale at 11 a.m.
Penn State is now 8-17 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, while Illinois improved to 13-12 overall and 5-6 in conference action.
Ben Hudson earned the start for the Nittany Lions, going three innings. He allowed six runs on five hits. Hudson tallied four strikeouts and three walks. Frankie Sanchez threw one inning, giving up five runs on two hits, while striking out two and walking two.
Ethan Bauerschmidt worked 1.1 innings, giving up four runs on two hits and two walks. Skip Shenosky threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run. Harrison Lollin tossed a scoreless seventh and struck out one.
Regan Hall got the start for Illinois, tossing five innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits and one walk. Hall recorded eight strikeouts. Oliver Martel threw two scoreless innings.
Penn State recorded five runs on 13 hits. Bryce Molinaro tallied two hits, including a three-run homer, and scored twice. Michael Anderson added three hits and a run. Maddox McDonald contributed two hits and an RBI.
Molinaro’s homer was the 31st of his career, moving him into sole possession of fifth all-time at Penn State. On the day, he broke a tie with Michael Campo (30; 1997-00) and Chris Wright (30; 1999-02).
Illinois plated 16 runs on 11 hits. Collin Jennings, Kyle Schupmann and Will Johannes all drove in four runs. Jennings and Schupmann had a homer and a double, while Johannes had two doubles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois got on the board in the first. Nick Groves and Michael Farina worked back-to-back walks to begin the game. AJ Putty lined a single to right to bring in Groves. Two batters later, Kyle Schupmann bounced a single through the left side to plate Farina. A double to right-center by Will Johannes brought in Putty and Schupmann to push Illinois’ lead to 4-0.
The Illini added a run in the second. J.R. Nelson drew a leadoff walk. A single by Groves put runners at first and second. A double steal put runners at second and third before Jack Zebig lifted a sac fly to center to bring in Nelson. Illinois led 5-0.
Penn State answered in the bottom of the second. Spencer Barnett ripped a single to left to begin the frame. Bryce Molinaro lined a single to right and a throwing error on the play resulted in runners at second and third. Avery Smith shot a grounder through the left side to bring in Barnett. A chopped infield single by Maddox McDonald allowed Molinaro to cross the plate. PSU trimmed its deficit to 5-2.
Illinois plated a run in the third. Jennings ripped a double inside the right field line to start the inning. He moved up to third on a flyout by Johannes. A wild pitch allowed Jennings to score and extend Illinois’ lead to 6-2.
The Illini added on in the fourth. After a leadoff walk by Nelson, Zebig was hit by a pitch and Putty walked to load the bases. Jennings launched a grand slam off the batter’s eye. Kyle Schupmann followed with a homer over the wall in center. Illinois pushed its lead to 11-2.
Penn State chipped away in the fifth. Michael Anderson held off on a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff walk. Jack Porter sent a single through the left side. Two batters later, Bryce Molinaro smacked a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right. The opposite-field homer cut PSU’s deficit to 11-5.
Illinois responded in the top of the sixth. A single by Farina and walks by Zebig and Jennings loaded the bases. Schupmann bounced a double over the wall in left-center to bring in Farina and Zebig. A double to left by Johannes brought in Jennings and Schupmann before a single by Brayden Mazzacano plated Johannes. Illinois led 16-5.
UP NEXT
The series continues on Sunday at 11 a.m. with a stream on B1G+.
Sunday’s game includes postgame kids run the bases.
The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.