Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Northwestern Falls in Series Opener at Penn State
4/5/2024 6:18:00 PM | Baseball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Northwestern dropped the series opener 8-4 to Penn State on Friday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Northwestern (10-16, 0-4 Big Ten) got on the board first with an RBI single by Trent Liolios, bringing home Vince Bianchina to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Penn State (14-12, 2-5 Big Ten) scored the game's next six runs, with two in the bottom of the first and four in the bottom of the second to take a 6-1 lead.
Bennett Markinson drove in Owen McElfatrick with an RBI single in the top of the third, cutting into the Nittany Lion lead. Markinson later came around to score on a throwing error, trimming the PSU lead to 6-3.
Penn State re-extended its lead to 7-3 with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth by Grant Norris. The Nittany Lions added another run on a throwing error in the bottom of the fifth, putting PSU up 8-3.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth, Preston Knott raced home to beat the tag on a Bianchina dribbler, cutting the PSU lead to 8-4. Anthony Steele closed out the game for the Nittany Lions with a scoreless ninth inning to deliver an 8-4 win.
Nolan Morr (1-4) was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Travis Luensmann (3-1) earned the win for PSU, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched, striking out four and walking two.
Game Notes
- Matt McClure tossed 5.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits, striking out a pair and issuing no walks.
- Jack Dyke threw a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.
- Bennett Markinson went 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
Game Two of the series is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 6 on B1G+. Kyle Potthoff is set to make the start for the Wildcats, with Jaden Henline slated to start for the Nittany Lions.
