UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Minnesota on Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions fell 5-4 in the first game before a 5-3 decision in game two. PSU made late rallies in both games but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Penn State is now 12-31 overall (5-18 Big Ten), while Minnesota moved to 29-17 overall (10-13 Big Ten).
In game one, the PSU bullpen held Minnesota to one run over the final six innings. Bryce Molinaro launched a two-run homer.
In game two, Michael Anderson blasted a home run over the left field wall in the first inning, his 19th of the season, to tie Ben Heath’s single-season record set in 2010. The PSU bullpen gave up just one run (unearned) over the final 4.1 frames.
GAME 1
Colin Fitzgerald earned the start for the Nittany Lions, going three innings on 80 pitches. The right-hander gave up six hits and four walks. Fitzgerald allowed four runs with four strikeouts.
Mason Horwat came on in relief to start the fourth inning. Horwat allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out three, while not allowing a run. Mason Butash entered in the sixth. He fired three innings in relief, allowing four hits, a walk, a run, and struck out four. Ben DeMell tossed a perfect frame in the ninth, striking out one.
Isaac Morton got the start for Minnesota, going five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk. He struck out eight while picking up the win. Adam Urban entered in the sixth. He pitched two innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out four. Joe Sperry came on in the eighth inning, firing two scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and registering two punchouts while earning the save.
Penn State tallied four runs on seven hits. Bryce Molinaro blasted a two-run homer, while Maddox McDonald contributed an RBI triple among two hits. Preston Yaucher added an RBI single and a run.
Molinaro launched his 37th career homer to move within six of Shawn Fagan’s all-time PSU record (43; 1997-00). With his 13th homer of the 2026 season, Molinaro is tied for the eighth-most in a season at PSU.
Minnesota collected five runs on 11 hits. Weber Neels had a three-run homer among two hits. Charlie Sutherland added three hits, while Easton Richter had two hits, including a double, and two runs.
GAME 2
Ben Hudson made the start for Penn State in the second leg of the doubleheader. The sophomore right-hander tossed three perfect innings before allowing his first hit and baserunner in the fourth. He closed his outing allowing four runs on four hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. Hudson struck out three batters.
Kyle Emmons entered the game in relief. The junior righty tossed 3.1 innings before Dimond Loosli relieved him in the ninth. Emmons allowed one run on three hits and a walk. He added two strikeouts. Loosli held Minnesota scoreless in the ninth with a strikeout and one hit allowed.
Marcus Kruzan picked up the start for the Gophers. He allowed two runs in four innings of work. Kruzan surrendered two runs on five hits and no walks, while striking out five. Tyler Hemmesch entered the game in the fifth. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Will Whelan took the bump in the seventh, allowing one run in two innings. He gave up one hit and punched out five hitters. Brandon Jaenke closed out the game with a scoreless inning.
Penn State recorded three runs on seven hits. Michael Anderson, Spencer Barnett and Kevin Karstetter totaled multi-hit performances. Anderson launched a solo homer in the first. Barnett added a double.
Anderson’s 19th homer of the 2026 season tied him with Ben Heath (19; 2010) for the Penn State season record.
Minnesota tallied five runs on eight hits. Weber Neels doubled and drove in three runs. The top eight hitters of the Minnesota lineup each recorded one hit.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
Minnesota jumped out to an early lead in the first. After Jack Spanier worked a leadoff walk and Davis Hamitlon singled up the middle, Weber Neels lifted a fly ball over the wall in center. The Gophers led 3-0.
Penn State cut its deficit in the second. With one out, Avery Smith was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Maddox McDonald smacked a line drive into right and hustled to third for a triple as Smith raced home. PSU trailed 3-1.
The Gophers responded with a run in the third. Easton Richter led off with a single to right and moved to second after Jack Bello was hit by a pitch. Jack Mosh’s line drive tipped of a glove and into right field for a single to bring in Richter and extend the Minnesota lead to 4-1.
The Nittany Lions plated a run in the fifth. With one out, Preston Yaucher reached on an error. A walk by Jayden Davis and a single by Michael Anderson loaded the bases. Bryce Molinaro lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly to bring in Yaucher. PSU cut its deficit to 4-2.
Penn State trimmed its deficit again in the sixth. With two outs, Jesse Jaconski bounced a single into left. McDonald laid down a bunt for a single and Jaconski moved to third after a throwing error on the play. Yaucher dribbled a single through the right side to drive in Jaconski. PSU trailed 4-3.
Minnesota responded in the top of the seventh. Richter began the frame with a double to left and moved to third on a sac bunt. Bello sent a sac fly to center to bring in Richter. The Gophers held a 5-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Molinaro launched a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right-center. The 444-foot blast trimmed PSU’s deficit to 5-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
The Nittany Lions took an early lead in the first. With one out, Anderson hammered the first pitch he saw over the wall in left. The 430-foot dinger gave PSU a 1-0 lead.
Penn State added a run in the third. With one out, Jayden Davis lined a single to center. Anderson beat the shift with a single to right to place runners on the corners. Bryce Molinaro’s grounder on the left side resulted in an error and Davis crossing the plate. The Nittany Lions led 2-0.
The Gophers took the lead in the fifth. Easton Richter smacked a double to left to start the inning. He moved up to third on a wild pitch before Brayden Hellum worked a walk. Jack Bello lined a single to right to drive in Richter. A double play left Hellum on third before a walk by Jack Spanier and a hit-by-pitch by Davis Hamilton loaded the bases. A fly ball by Weber Neels landed in right center to clear the bases and give Minnesota a 4-2 advantage.
The Nittany Lions plated a run in the seventh. Joey DeMucci was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. He moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error. A wild pitch allowed DeMucci to score and bring the game within one, 4-3.
Minnesota pushed its lead back to two with a run in the eighth. Neels worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Charlie Sutherland bounced a single through the right side to bring in Neels. Minnesota led 5-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Maddox McDonald held off on a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff walk. With two outs, Davis was hit by a pitch. Anderson drilled a line drive to center, but it was caught to end the game.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions series concludes on Sunday at noon with a stream on B1G+.
Sunday’s game includes Dollar Dogs for the first 2,000 hot dogs sold.
Sunday is Bark In The Park followed by kids run the bases (12 & under).
All games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.