Anderson Breaks Home Run Record In Baseball’s 13-3 Win Over Maryland

drove in four runs to lead the Penn State baseball team to a 13-3, run-rule win in seven innings over Maryland on Thursday evening at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. Jesse Jaconski and Maddox McDonald joined Anderson with homers in the victory.

 

Penn State improved to 16-33 overall (9-19 Big Ten), while Maryland dropped to 25-29 overall (7-21 Big Ten).

 

In the fourth inning, Anderson hammered his 20^th home run of the season, breaking a tie with Ben Heath (19; 2010) for the Penn State season record. Anderson’s 20^th home run traveled 407 feet to left-center.

 

With the Nittany Lions limiting Maryland to three runs, Penn State has held Big Ten opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games, the first time Penn State has accomplished that since joining the Big Ten.

 

Penn State has held conference opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games for the first time since 1987 as a member of the Atlantic 10.

 

Colin Fitzgerald earned the start on the mound for Penn State, working three innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits. Fitzgerald recorded five strikeouts and three walks.

 

Ben DeMell fired 1.1 shutout frames, giving up one hit and one walk. DeMell struck out three batters, including two in the fifth, and picked up the win.

 

DeMell made his 80^th career pitching appearance, becoming the fourth Nittany Lion pitcher to reach 80 career appearances, joining Jack Anderson (98; 2013-16), Mason Mellott (89; 2018-22) and David Lutz (85; 2007-10).

 

Mason Horwat tossed two scoreless frames and secured one strikeout.

 

James Gladden made the start for Maryland, going two innings. He allowed two runs without allowing a hit. Gladden recorded one strikeout and three walks. Landon Edwards allowed four runs on two hits over one inning. He struck out one and walked two batters. Andrew Koshy worked two innings, giving up six runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Ryan Bailey threw one inning, allowing one run (unearned). Quinn Yellin added a scoreless seventh.

 

Penn State collected 13 runs on 10 hits. Anderson tallied two hits, including his two-run homer, drove in four runs and scored three times. Maddox McDonald contributed a double and a homer with three RBI, while Jesse Jaconski added a two-run homer. Bryce Molinaro doubled and drove in two.

 

With five total bases on Tuesday, Anderson now has 137 for the season. He moved past Paxton Kling (134; 2025) and Matt Wood (132; 2022) to climb to sixth in a season at Penn State.

 

Maryland plated three runs on eight hits. David Mendez launched a two-run homer, among two hits, and scored twice. Paul Jones II tallied two hits and drove in a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Nittany Lions got on the board in the first. Jayden Davis and Michael Anderson worked back-to-back four-pitch walks. A wild pitch allowed the runners to move up a base. Bryce Molinaro sent a fly ball to the warning track in right for a sacrifice fly to bring in Davis. Kevin Karstetter dribbled a grounder to the left side of the infield to allow Anderson to score. Penn State led 2-0.

 

Maryland plated a run in the second. David Mendez led off the inning with an infield single. He moved up to second on a wild pitch. Paul Jones hit a sharp grounder through the right side to drive in Mendez. The Terrapins trimmed their deficit to 2-1.

 

Penn State extended its lead in the third. Anderson was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. With two outs, he stole second. Jesse Jaconski hammered a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left-center. Jaconski’s sixth homer of the year gave PSU a 4-1 advantage.

 

The Terrapins added two runs in the bottom of the third. Bud Coombs started the inning with a single to right. Two batters later, Mendez lifted a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center. PSU held a 4-3 lead.

 

Penn State used the long ball to extend its lead in the fourth. After Avery Smith led off the inning with a walk, Maddox McDonald blasted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center. Preston Yaucher followed with a single into left. Two batters later, Anderson launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left-center. Anderson’s 407-foot blast, his 20^th of the year, pushed PSU’s lead to 8-3.

 

The Nittany Lions added four runs in the fifth. With one out, Spencer Barnett worked a walk. He moved up to second on a balk before Smith lined a single off the pitcher to put runners at the corners. McDonald ripped a double down the left-field line to drive in Barnett. Yaucher bounced into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners on the corners. Davis drew a walk to load the bases. Anderson shot a grounder through the left side to drive in Smith and Yaucher. Molinaro smacked a double off the wall in left to plate Davis and extend the Penn State lead to 12-3.

 

Penn State manufactured a run in the sixth. Karstetter roped a double to right to begin the frame. With two outs, Smith drew a walk. A wild throw on a pickoff attempt allowed Karstetter to move up to third. Smith then drew a throw on a delayed steal with the throw going into center field to allow Karstetter to score. PSU led 13-3.

 

Up Next

The middle game of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday’s series finale begins at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.