COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State baseball team rallied with three runs in the sixth and four in the eighth but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 15-10 at Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium. After the Nittany Lions took Friday’s game, OSU won a tight game on Saturday and took the series on Sunday.
Penn State is now 10-23 overall (4-11 Big Ten), while Ohio State moved to 19-15 overall (9-6 Big Ten).
Isaiah Shayter made his ninth start of the year for the Nittany Lions, pitching one inning and into the second. He was charged with six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks. Mason Horwat worked 3.1 innings, giving up three runs on two hits and striking out two. Kyle Emmons allowed three runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning.
Robert Brown III went 1.2 frames, giving up three runs on three hits. He recorded two strikeouts and a walk. Dimond Loosli fired 1.1 scoreless frames and struck out two.
Pierce Herrenbruck got the start for the Buckeyes tossed 5.2 frames, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits. He recorded two strikeouts and one walk. Luke Carrell threw a scoreless inning and struck out one. Lincoln McVicker retired the only batter he faced. Zach Weber gave up three runs (one earned) over one-third of an inning. Andrew Edrington allowed one run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. Nick Sawyer closed out the ninth and struck out two.
Penn State collected 10 runs on 14 hits. Michael Anderson tallied three hits, including a solo homer and an RBI double. Jayden Davis added two doubles, among three hits, and two runs. Kevin Karstetter notched two hits, two runs and two RBI. Cohl Mercado added a two-run double, while Jack Porter secured two hits and scored twice.
Anderson hit his 15th home run of the season. He is now tied for fifth in a season with Shawn Fagan (15; 2000).
Ohio State recorded 15 runs on 15 hits. Henry Kaczmar and Jacob Parr each drove in four runs, including a grand slam by Kaczmar and a two-run homer by Parr. Maddix Simpson added two hits, including a double, and three RBI. Dane Harvey contributed a solo homer and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ohio State got on the board in the first. With two outs, Noah Furcht bounced a single through the middle. Dane Harvey followed with a bloop single to left-center to put runners on the corners. Maddix Simpson chopped a double down the left-field line to bring in Furcht. A single into shallow center by Jacob Parr drove in Harvey and Simpson. The Buckeyes led 3-0.
The Nittany Lions answered in the top of the second. Jack Porter lined a leadoff single to right-center. Jayden Davis sent a line drive to the right-center gap for a double to put runners on second and third. Kevin Karstetter bounced a grounder to the left side to bring in Porter. Two batters later, Preston Yaucher’s grounder up the middle resulted in an error and Davis coming in to score. PSU trailed 3-2.
The Buckeyes plated three in the bottom of the second. Grant Mangrum’s fly ball off the wall in center resulted in a triple. Alex Bemis smacked a single to left to drive in Mangrum. A walk by Henry Kaczmar and a fielder’s choice by Furcht, resulting in an error and everyone safe, loaded the bases. Dane Harvey held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk to bring in Bemis. Simpson bounced into a fielder’s choice but allowed Kaczmar to score. OSU pushed its lead to 6-2.
Ohio State added a run in the fourth. With one out, Harvey lifted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center. The Buckeyes held a 7-2 advantage.
Penn State cut its deficit in the fifth. With two outs, Michael Anderson launched a 1-2 pitch over the batter’s eye. The 441-foot blast trimmed PSU’s deficit to 7-3.
The Buckeyes exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Lee Ellis was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. Miles Vandenheuvel replaced Ellis at first after a fielder’s choice. Mangrum was hit by a pitch before a double steal resulted in Vandenheuvel at third and Mangrum at second. Bemis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kaczmar launched a 2-2 pitch over the wall in center for a grand slam. Furcht reached on an infield single and moved up to second on a groundout. Maddix Simpson’s sharp liner resulted in a single and Furcht scoring. OSU led 12-3.
Penn State chipped away in the sixth. Spencer Barnett worked a leadoff walk. Porter bounced a single through the left side before a groundout moved the runners to second and third. Karstetter beat out an infield single as Barnett came in to score. Avery Smith bounced a grounder to the left side but allowed Porter to cross the plate. Preston Yaucher smacked a double into left to bring home Karstetter. PSU trailed 12-6.
Ohio State responded in the bottom of the sixth. Ellis was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and stole second. Mangrum lined a single to left to bring in Ellis and extend OSU’s lead to 13-6.
The Buckeyes added two runs in the seventh. After Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice, Parr sent a fly ball over the wall in left. OSU held a 15-6 lead.
Penn State chipped away again in the eighth. Davis roped a double to right to begin the frame. Karstetter reached on an error to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Davis to score. After Yaucher drew a walk, Cohl Mercado sent a double to the right-center gap to bring in Karstetter and Yaucher. Anderson landed a single in left-center to plate Mercado. PSU trailed 15-10.
UP NEXT
Penn State meets No. 17 West Virginia at Meritus Park in Hagerstown, Md. for. 5:30 p.m. first pitch. Meritus Park is the home of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.
The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a three-game series against Rutgers on April 17-19.
The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.