COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State baseball team fell 3-2 at Ohio State on Saturday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium. The Nittany Lions cut their deficit to one in the sixth and ninth innings, but Ohio State closed out the victory.
Penn State dropped to 10-22 overall (4-10 Big Ten), while Ohio State improved to 18-15 on the season (8-6 Big Ten).
After two early runs by the Buckeyes, the PSU pitching staff held Ohio State scoreless for five innings until a sac fly in the eighth. OSU had just two hits, both singles, over the final 5.2 frames.
Ben Hudson made the start for the Nittany Lions, tossing 4.2 innings. He allowed two runs on two hits. Hudson tallied two strikeouts and two walks. Mason Butash worked 2.2 innings. He surrendered one run on two hits and two walks. Ben DeMell recorded the final two outs of the eighth.
Chris Domke got the start for Ohio State, working 5.2 innings. He gave up one run on seven hits. Domke had three strikeouts and two walks. Nick Sawyer tossed 1.1 scoreless frames and secured two strikeouts. Ryan Zamora picked up the save, going two innings. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out two.
Penn State tallied two runs on nine hits. Jayden Davis recorded two hits, including an RBI double. Jack Porter singled and drove in a run with a sac fly. Bryce Molinaro singled and scored, while Avery Smith had two hits.
Ohio State registered three runs on four hits and five walks. Noah Furcht contributed two hits, including an RBI double. Dane Harvey and Maddix Simpson both drove in runs while Henry Kaczmar drew two walks and scored twice.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ohio State got on the board in the first. Alex Bemis worked a seven-pitch leadoff walk. Henry Kaczmar and Noah Furcht were hit by pitches to load the bases. With one out, Dane Harvey sent a fly ball to center for a sac fly as Bemis crossed the plate. OSU led 1-0.
The Buckeyes added a run in the third. Bemis led off the frame with a single to left-center. Kaczmar replaced Bemis at first after a fielder’s choice and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Furcht smacked a double into the corner in left to bring in Kaczmar. Ohio State held a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, with two outs, Kevin Karstetter was hit by a pitch. Avery Smith ripped a single into center to put runners on first and second. However, a strikeout ended the inning.
Penn State chipped away in the sixth. Bryce Molinaro worked a five-pitch walk to begin the inning. Spencer Barnett lined a single to right as Molinaro hustled to third. Jack Porter lifted a sac fly to left to bring in Molinaro. Two batters later, Smith lined a single to right. A bunt single by Maddox McDonald loaded the bases. A strikeout ended the inning and kept PSU trailing, 2-1.
Ohio State added a run in the eighth. Kaczmar worked a leadoff walk. Furcht dropped a single into right-center to put two runners on. A sac bunt moved Kaczmar to third and Furcht to second. After Harvey was intentionally walked to load the bases, Maddix Simpson lifted a sac fly to center to bring in Kaczmar. OSU led 3-1.
In the top of the ninth, Preston Yaucher drew a seven-pitch walk with one out. Jayden Davis smacked a line drive into the left-center gap and hustled to second for a double as Yaucher came around to score. With two outs, a wild pitch allowed Davis to move to third. However, a strikeout ended the game with the final 3-2 margin.
UP NEXT
The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. with a stream on B1G+.
The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.