UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team battled late with a strong rally against Rutgers but fell 13-11 in the series opener on Friday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions trailed by 11 runs going into the bottom fifth but scored four in the fifth, one in the seventh and four in the ninth and ended the game with the tying run on first.
Penn State dropped to 10-25 overall (4-12 Big Ten), while Rutgers improved to 19-19 overall (6-10 Big Ten).
Due to forecasted rain in the evening, Saturday’s game has been moved up to a 1 p.m. start.
The Nittany Lion pitching staff retired the final 13 Rutgers batters of the game to give Penn State a chance to get back into the game.
Colin Fitzgerald earned the start for the Nittany Lions, going three innings. He allowed 10 runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out one batter and walked two. Mason Horwat worked one inning, giving up one run (unearned) on one hit and striking out one.
Frankie Sanchez tossed four innings, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out three. Sanchez held Rutgers scoreless over his final three innings. Ethan Bauerschmidt worked a 1-2-3 inning.
Zach Kostantinovsky got the start for the Scarlet Knights, going 4.1 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits, while recording nine strikeouts and two walks. Joe Mazza threw 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. Mazza struck out seven batters and walked one. Chris Sand gave up three runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out. Jordan Saviñon recorded the final three outs.
Penn State tallied 11 runs on 21 hits. Jayden Davis, Kevin Karstetter and Jack Porter each recorded four hits. Davis scored two runs, while Karstetter had two doubles and drove in two runs. Porter launched a two-run homer and added a pair of RBI singles. Maddox McDonald contributed three hits, including a two-run double. Spencer Barnett had three hits and scored twice.
Penn State’s 21 hits were its most since March 16, 2024 against UMass Lowell (20) and its most in a Big Ten game since May 1, 2021 against Michigan State (27).
Rutgers collected 13 runs on 11 hits. Jack Sweeney notched three hits, including two homers, four RBI and three runs. Tristan Salinas and Trey Wells each drove in two runs. Matt Chatelle added a solo homer and scored twice.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rutgers plated 10 runs in third, helped by multiple errors. Tristan Salinas reached on an error to begin the innings. After Salinas moved to second on a wild pitch, he scored on a single by Jack Sweeney. A single by Charlie Meglio put runners on first and second. A bunt by Matt Chatelle resulted in an error and Sweeney scoring. Yomar Carreras reached on a fielder’s choice as Meglio beat the throw home. Gabriel Rivera reached on a bunt single before Trey Wells sent a single to right to bring in Chatelle and Carreras. A bunt single by Chase Krewson loaded the bases. Ryan Jaros dribbled a groundout to the left side to bring in Rivera. After a single by Salinas drove in Wells and Krewson, Sweeney hammered a homer over the wall in center. The Scarlet Knights led 10-0.
The Scarlet Knights added a run in the fourth. Carreras reached on an error to begin the frame. He moved up to second on a groundout. A single to center by Krewson brought in Carreras and pushed the Rutgers lead to 11-0.
Penn State chipped away in the bottom of the fourth. Spencer Barnett began the inning with a single to left. Jack Porter launched an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right. Porter’s 374-foot blast cut the PSU deficit to 11-2.
Rutgers responded in the fifth. Sweeney and Chatelle blasted solo homers to extend the Scarlet Knights’ advantage to 13-2.
The Nittany Lions plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jayden Davis worked a leadoff walk before a single by Michael Anderson. A walk by Barnett loaded the bases. Porter ripped a single through the left side to drive in Davis. An infield single by Kevin Karstetter brought in Anderson. Two batters later, Maddox McDonald snuck a grounder inside the third base bag for a double as Barnett and Porter scored. PSU trimmed its deficit to 13-6.
Penn State added a run in the seventh. Karstetter started the inning with a double to left-center. With two outs, Preston Yaucher ripped a singled to left to drive in Karstetter. PSU trailed 13-7.
In the ninth, McDonald sent a single through the middle to start the frame. Singles by Yaucher and Davis loaded the bases. Anderson worked a four-pitch walk to bring in McDonald. Bryce Molinaro followed with a walk to plate Yaucher. Two batters later, Porter shot a single to left to drive in Davis. A grounder by Karstetter resulted in a fielder’s choice and Anderson scoring to bring PSU within two, 13-11. However, a pop out to the first baseman ended the game.
Up Next
The series continues on Saturday with Ice Cream Day, featuring Double Play Peanut Butter Cup Presented By Penn State Baseball, and postgame autographs. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
Sunday is a 1 p.m. start as we host the Nittany Lion’s Birthday Party. Sunday also includes postgame kids run the bases.
All games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free for all ages.