LINCOLN, Neb. – The Penn State baseball team fell in a Saturday doubleheader at No. 19 Nebraska at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. The Nittany Lions were edged, 8-7, in game one. Penn State held 5-1 and 7-3 leads, but the Huskers clawed back until taking the lead in the seventh. PSU fell 13-1 in seven innings in game two.
Penn State is now 8-20 overall (3-8 Big Ten), while Nebraska improved to 25-6 (10-1 Big Ten).
GAME 1
Colin Fitzgerald earned the start on the mound for the Nittany Lions, going 2.2 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Kyle Emmons worked 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Emmons tallied two strikeouts and walked one. Dimond Loosli threw one inning, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk, while striking out two. Robert Brown III went 1.1 frames, surrendering one run on two hits. Ben DeMell recorded the final two outs of the eighth, including a strikeout.
Ty Horn made the start for Nebraska, working three innings and into the fourth. He gave up seven runs on seven hits. Horn struck out two batters and walked one. Tucker Timmerman fired four scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and one walk, while striking out two. J’Shawn Unger picked up the save with two shutout innings.
Penn State notched seven runs on eight hits. Bryce Molinaro and Justin Turcovski each had a two-run homer. Michael Anderson added two doubles and two RBI. Avery Smith had a double, among two hits, and scored a run.
Molinaro’s home run was the 32nd of his career, tying Jordan Steranka (32; 2009-12) for fourth all-time at Penn State. Molinaro also collected his 128th career RBI, matching Cory Wine (128; 2006-09) for sixth all-time at PSU.
Nebraska tallied eight runs on 10 hits. Mac Moyer recorded three hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Jett Buck added a solo homer, while Rhett Stokes went three-for-three with a double, two runs and an RBI.
GAME 2
Ben Hudson got the start for the Nittany Lions, tossing three innings. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and two walks. Ethan Bauerschmidt went one-third of an inning, giving up three runs on two hits.
Frankie Sanchez worked 1.2 frames, surrendering two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk. Harrison Lollin threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning and struck out one.
Carson Jasa started on the mound for Nebraska, tossing a complete game. He allowed one run on four hits over seven innings. Jasa secured 11 strikeouts and walked three.
Penn State recorded one run on four hits and three walks. Spencer Barnett notched an RBI double. Preston Yaucher singled and scored a run. Michael Anderson and Jack Porter added singles.
Nebraska collected 13 runs on 11 hits. Jett Buck drove in six runs, including a grand slam. Mac Moyer had two hits and three runs, while Trey Fikes contributed two hits, including an RBI double, and two runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the second. With one out, fly ball by Jack Porter landed in shallow right as Porter hustled to second for a double. A deep fly out by Jayden Davis allowed Porter to move up to third. A wild pitch brought in Porter, who performed a terrific swim move to avoid the tag. Penn State led 1-0.
Nebraska tied the game in the bottom of the second. With one out, Jett Buck lifted a fly ball to center that carried over the fence to even the game at 1-1.
Penn State responded in the third. Preston Yaucher sent a leadoff single into right. Cohl Mercado was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Michael Anderson shot a grounder inside the left-field line and into the corner for a double as Yaucher and Mercado hustled home. Bryce Molinaro launched a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right-center. Penn State held a 5-1 lead.
The Huskers answered in their half of the third. With one out, Rhett Stokes reached on an infield single. Mac Moyer smacked a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right. The line-drive homer cut the Nebraska deficit to 5-3.
Penn State added two runs in the fourth. Avery Smith lined a leadoff double to left. Justin Turcovski lifted a fly ball into center and it carried over the wall for a two-run homer. Turcovski’s first homer as a Nittany Lion extended PSU’s lead to 7-3.
Nebraska got a run in the bottom of the fourth. A grounder by Drew Grego bounced into left as Grego hustled to second for a double. Two batters later, Stokes was hit by a pitch before a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Moyer sent a fly ball to center for a sac fly to bring in Grego. Nebraska trimmed its deficit to 7-4.
The Huskers added a run in the fifth. Case Sanderson began the frame with a single to right-center. Two batters later, Buck held off on a 3-2 pitch for a walk. With two outs, Grego dribbled a single through the right side to bring in Sanderson. PSU still led, 7-5.
Nebraska tied the game in the sixth. Stokes began the inning with a double to left. A walk by Moyer and a passed ball put runners at second and third. After Jeter Worthley was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a wild pitch allowed Stokes to score with an error on the play also bringing in Moyer. The game was even at 7-7.
The Huskers took the lead in the seventh. With one out, Grego was hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a groundout. Stokes lined a single to right to bring in Grego and give Nebraska an 8-7 lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
Nebraska jumped out to an early lead. Mac Moyer lined a single to right to begin the frame. Will Jesske was hit by a pitch before Case Sanderson reached on a walk to load the bases. Dylan Carey landed a single in left-center to bring in Moyer. On the first pitch he saw, Jett Buck sent a grand slam over the wall in right. The Huskers led 5-0.
The Huskers added on in the second. Trey Fikes reached on a leadoff single. Moyer followed with a single to put runners at first and second. Jesske bounced a single through the middle to drive in Fikes. Sanderson drew a walk with ball four resulting in a wild pitch and Moyer crossing the plate. Nebraska held a 7-0 lead.
Penn State answered in the third. Preston Yaucher lined a single to right to start the frame. Two batters later, Michael Anderson’s sharp grounder resulted in a single and runners on the corners. With two outs, Spencer Barnett smacked a double into right to drive in Yaucher. PSU trailed 7-1.
Nebraska responded in the bottom of the third. With one out, Drew Grego reached on an error and moved up to second on the play. Two batters later, Fikes lined a double to left to bring in Grego. Nebraska led 8-1.
The Huskers added three runs in the fourth. With runners at second and third, Buck sent a single through the middle to bring in Cary and Preston Freeman. A double by Grego brought in Buck. Nebraska held an 11-1 advantage.
Nebraska plated two runs in the fifth. With runners on first and second, Freeman roped a double to left to bring in Fikes and Moyer. Nebraska led 13-1.
UP NEXT
The series concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. with a stream on B1G+.
The 2026 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.