Baseball Splits Doubleheader Against Washington

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team earned a win in game two to split its doubleheader against Washington on Friday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions dropped the first game, 5-4, but bounced back for a 6-4 win in game two.

 

The series concludes on Saturday with Senior Day Presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

 

All games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.

 

Penn State moved to 14-32 overall (7-19 Big Ten), while Washington is now 22-28 overall (11-15 Big Ten).

 

In game one, Bryce Molinaro and Preston Yaucher both launched two-run homers. Colin Fitzgerald threw 5.1 strong innings in his start.

 

In game two, Jayden Davis collected three hits and drove in a run, while Jesse Jaconski homered. Ben Hudson limited the Huskies to three runs over five innings.

 

Game 1

Colin Fitzgerald earned the start for the Nittany Lions, working 5.1 strong innings. He allowed just one run on six hits. Fitzgerald recorded five strikeouts and allowed two walks. Fitzgerald held the Huskies scoreless over his final 4.2 innings and secured multiple strikeouts in the fifth inning.

 

Ben DeMell got the final two outs of the fifth, including a strikeout. DeMell made his 78^th career appearance on the mound as a Nittany Lion, moving into a tie with Dakota Forsyth (2014-17) for fourth all-time at Penn State.

 

Kyle Emmons threw two innings, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out one. Robert Brown III worked a scoreless top ninth and struck out one.

 

Jackson Thomas got the start for Washington, working six innings. He gave up two runs on four hits. Thomas registered five strikeouts and walked one batter. Tommy Brandenberg tossed two innings, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out two. Carson Boesel picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.

 

Penn State notched four runs on eight hits. Bryce Molinaro collected two hits, including a two-run homer and a double. Preston Yaucher launched a two-run homer, the first of his career. Michael Anderson added two hits and a run, while Jesse Jaconski had two hits, including a double.

 

Molinaro’s home run was the 38^th of his career. He trails Shawn Fagan (43; 1997-00) for the career home run record at Penn State.

 

With his 14^th home run of the year, Molinaro tied Grant Norris (14; 2024) for seventh in a season at Penn State.

 

Jack Porter returned from an injury for a pinch-hit appearance but a deep flyout ended his 31-game reached-base streak, going back to March 1 against Indiana State.

 

Washington recorded five runs on nine hits. Ethan Swidler blasted a three-run homer. Ty Cowan added a double among two hits and scored a run.

 

Game 2

Ben Hudson made the start for the Nittany Lions, working five innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits. Hudson notched three strikeouts and two walks. He held the Huskies scoreless in the second through fourth innings.

 

Mason Butash fired three strong innings, allowing one run on three hits. Butash secured two strikeouts and walked two batters. Mason Horwat picked up the save with a perfect ninth, including two strikeouts.

 

Noah Kenney started on the mound for Washington, going four innings. He surrendered five runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out three. Liam Lierman worked two innings, giving up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Bryce Johnson tossed a scoreless seventh and registered two strikeouts. Gunnar Nichols threw a scoreless inning.

 

Penn State plated six runs on 12 hits. Jayden Davis collected three hits in the leadoff spot, including a double, and added an RBI and two runs. Jesse Jaconski launched a solo homer among two hits and scored twice. Bryce Molinaro drove in two runs.

 

Washington scored four runs on 10 hits. Jackson Hotchkiss contributed three hits, including a solo homer, and two RBI. Braeden Terry scored twice and drove in a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)

The Huskies got on the board in the first. Braeden Terry lined a leadoff triple to right-center. Jackson Hotchkiss lifted an 0-1 pitch to right for a sacrifice fly to bring in Terry. Washington led 1-0.

 

The Nittany Lions took the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Maddox McDonald worked an eight-pitch walk. Preston Yaucher hammered a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center. Yaucher’s first career homer went 409 feet and gave Penn State a 2-1 lead.

 

The Huskies tied the game in the seventh. Hotchkiss lined a leadoff double to left. Sam DeCarlo smacked a single to left to put runners on the corners. Colton Bower bounced into a double play but allowed Hotchkiss to cross the plate and even the game at 2-2.

 

Washington re-took the lead in the eighth. Blake Wilson worked a six-pitch walk to leadoff the inning. Ty Cowan held off on a 3-1 pitch for a walk to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Ethan Swidler launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center. The Huskies held a 5-2 advantage.

 

Penn State responded in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Michael Anderson shot a grounder through the right side. Bryce Molinaro hammered a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left-center. Molinaro’s 14^th homer of the year went 419 feet to bring PSU back within one, 5-4.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Jesse Jaconski smacked a double to right with two outs. Jack Porter entered the game as a pinch-hitter and worked a 2-2 count before sending a fly ball to the warning track in left. However, Porter’s 95 mph fly ball was caught to end the game.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)

Washington took an early lead in the first. Braeden Terry worked a leadoff walk. Jackson Hotchkiss sent a single through the left side. Sam DeCarlo’s fly ball hit off the top of the wall in right but Penn State was able to hold it to a single, but Washington had the bases loaded. Colton Bower lifted a fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly to bring in Terry. The Huskies led 1-0.

 

The Nittany Lions answered in the bottom of the first. Jayden Davis ripped a line drive to center and hustled to second for a double. With two outs, Kevin Karstetter dribbled a single through the middle to bring in Davis. The game was tied at 1-1.

 

Penn State added a pair of runs in the third. With one out, Davis drew a four-pitch walk. Michael Anderson ripped a single through the left side. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Bryce Molinaro roped a single to center to bring in both runners and give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 advantage.

 

The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the fourth. Leading off the inning, Jesse Jaconski launched a fly ball over the wall in left, sneaking it inside the foul pole. Maddox McDonald dropped a bunt along the right side of the infield for a single. McDonald stole second before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Joey DeMucci. Preston Yaucher lifted a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly to drive in McDonald. Penn State led 5-1.

 

Washington cut its deficit in the fifth. With one out, Terry lined a single to right. Hotchkiss blasted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left. The Huskies trailed 5-3.

 

The Huskies added a run in the sixth. With one out, Casen Taggert drew a seven-pitch walk. Ethan Swidler doubled off the wall in center to put runners on second and third. Terry sent a fly ball to right for a sac fly to drive in Taggert. Washington trimmed its deficit to 5-4.

 

Penn State responded in the bottom of the sixth. Jaconski smacked a leadoff single into left. A sac bunt by McDonald moved Jaconski to second. Joey DeMucci roped a single to right to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, Davis landed a single in center to bring in Jaconski and push PSU’s lead to 6-4.