Baseball: Lions roar by Pitt

State College — On Tuesday, Penn State took a short interlude from its conference schedule to take on Pitt in a one-game series. Pitt baseball was in the game to start, but it wouldn’t last beyond the middle innings. Penn State baseball took down the Panthers in a blood bath, winning 16-8.

Back and forth battle early

Penn State baseball struck first with a single from Johnny Piacentino to go up 1-0 in the first inning. The Lions scored two more runs from Josh Spiegel and Billy Gerlott singles to increase the lead to three after the first inning. 

In the second, Pitt baseball answered. An RBI single to center field got the Panthers on the board. Another RBI single, this time to left field, reduced the Penn State lead to a single run. The Panthers then loaded the bases. Consecutive walks given up by the Nittany Lions helped Pitt take its first lead of the game, 4-3.    

But a Billy Gerlott single would quickly tie the game at four in the bottom of the third inning. The Lions regained the lead after first baseman CJ Pittaro hit another RBI single. Pitt baseball tied the game in the fifth inning from a groundout that allowed a runner from third to score. 

But that was the last time the Panthers would be in this game. Penn State baseball exploded for a five-run inning in the sixth. Grant Norris hit a single through the left side to put the Lions ahead, followed by another Billy Gerlott single that increased the lead to two. Penn State loaded the bases, and Tayven Kelley scored two runs on a single to go up 9-5. Thomas Bramley joined the rally with a single to left field to increase the Nittany Lion lead to five runs.

Lions roar by Pitt baseball late

Pitt scored three runs in the eighth, but a six-run burst by the Lions in the bottom half of the inning would seal the game. The scoring started with a double from Tayven Kelley to make the score 11-8. Jay Harry singled to up the score to 12-8. A Bobby Marsh single increased the lead even more to 14-8. The final runs of the night came off a Grant Norris double. Penn State baseball won by a score of 16-8. Reliever Tommy Molsky picked up the win, his first of the season.

What’s next for Penn State baseball?

The Nittany Lions play against Indiana to kick off their first conference home series on Friday at 6 p.m.

Fun night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park! Highlights from our 16-8 win over Pitt!#WeAre pic.twitter.com/JGmWM32Ove

— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) March 29, 2023

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