Penn State Baseball Falls to Kent State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State was unable to match Kent State’s early runs, as the Golden Flashes defeated the Nittany Lions, 6-2, in non-conference baseball action Wednesday night in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Kent State (31-10) extended its winning streak to 10 and picked up its second win over Penn State (24-18) in as many weeks. RHP Joey Murray (1-1) started and pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out nine. Third baseman Dylan Rosa went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and centerfielder Mason Mamarella went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Golden Flashes offensively.

The Nittany Lions were paced by shortstop Jim Haley (Upper Darby, Pa.), first baseman Tyler Kendall (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and third baseman Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.), as all posted two hit games. Kendall also walked once to go 2-for-3 and Burger drove in both Haley and Kendall in the eighth inning for the Lions’ lone runs.

Penn State used five pitchers in the game. LHP Nick Hedge (Winnetka, Ill.) (4-2) pitched the first four innings and yielded two runs on five hits with one strikeout. RHPs Tom Mullin (Springfield, Pa.) and Tim Scholly (State College, Pa.) kept Kent State scoreless over the final three innings, as Scholly made his first appearance since 2014.

Kent State took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI-single by Mamarella and a sacrifice fly by Rosa. The Golden Flashes then added three in the fifth inning as Rosa struck again with a two-RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded, and then another run scored on an error. In the sixth, Mamarella drove in another run for a 6-0 lead.

Haley and Kendall both singled in the eighth, and after Kendall stole second, Burger singled in a full count with two outs to plate both.

Penn State will next host Maryland for a three-game series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m.