EUGENE, Ore. – The Penn State baseball team fell 5-4 in 10 innings against No. 19 Oregon on Saturday evening at PK Park. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but the Ducks tied the game in the seventh and won on a walk-off in the 10th.
Penn State is now 12-28 overall (5-15 Big Ten), while Oregon moved to 31-11 overall (14-6 Big Ten).
Ben Hudson made his 11th start of the season for the Nittany Lions, firing six strong innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. Hudson tallied five strikeouts and just one walk. He posted four shutout frames, including the last three of his outing. Hudson retired the final eight batters he faced.
Mason Butash threw one-third of an inning and was charged with two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk. Mason Horwat worked 1.1 frames, not allowing a run or hit while walking one and striking out two. Ben DeMell threw two innings, allowing one run on one hit and four walks, while striking out three.
Collin Clarke got the start for Oregon, working 5.2 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk. Clarke notched four strikeouts. Luke Morgan recorded the final out of the sixth on a strikeout. Toby Twist threw 1.2 scoreless frames and registered five strikeouts. Devin Bell tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out three.
Penn State tallied four runs on nine hits. Spencer Barnett launched a two-run homer. Bryce Molinaro had two hits, including an RBI double, and scored a run. Avery Smith added an RBI single, while Jayden Davis and Kevin Karstetter both singled and scored.
Oregon scored five runs on eight hits. Angel Laya doubled and knocked in two runs. Jack Brooks, Brayden Jaksa, Drew Smith all singled and drove in a run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead. Jayden Davis was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. A groundout moved Davis to second before Bryce Molinaro bounced a double over the wall in left to bring in Davis. Spencer Barnett lifted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Two batters later, Kevin Karstetter was hit by a pitch. After Karstetter stole second, Avery Smith smacked a single into left to drive in Karstetter. Penn State led 4-0.
Oregon got a run in the bottom of the first. Jack Brooks lined a leadoff single to center. Brayden Jaksa dribbled a single through the middle before a fly ball by Ryan Cooney landed in left to load the bases. Angel Laya chopped a grounder to the right side, resulting in a groundout and Brooks scoring. The Ducks trailed 4-1.
The Ducks added a run in the third. With one out, Cooney lifted a fly ball to right but it was robbed at the fence on a tremendous catch by Jack Porter. However, Drew Smith ripped a two-out single to right. Laya followed with a double to the corner in left to drive in Smith. PSU still led, 4-2.
Oregon tied the game in the seventh. Naulivou Lauaki began the inning with a single to left. Gabe Miranda worked a five-pitch walk to put runners at first and second. Jack Brooks moved the runners with a sac bunt. Jaksa’s high chopper in front of the plate resulted in Lauaki crossing the plate and runners on the corners. Cooney dropped a bunt in front of the plate with an error on the play leaving the bases loaded. On the bunt play, Cooney’s bat landed in fair territory in front of the plate. Penn State requested the game be protested at that point, arguing for batter’s interference. If ruled in Penn State’s favor, the game would be re-played from that point. Smith reached on a fielder’s choice allowing pinch-runner Jax Gimenez to score. The game was even at 4-4.
In the bottom of the 10th, Laya held off on a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff walk. He stole second before Maddox Molony worked a seven-pitch walk. Blake-Lee Mabeus laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Lauaki was intentionally walked to load the bases. The Nittany Lions brought Jayden Davis in as a fifth infielder, but DeMell was able to work a three-pitch strikeout. Brooks worked a 3-2 count before the seventh pitch of the at-bat was a ball to give Brooks a walk and score Laya as the winning run.
Up Next
The series concludes on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET with a live stream on B1G+.