Nittany Lions Head To Title Game For The First Time Since 2000

In Mike Gambino's first season as head coach, Penn State has advanced to the Big Ten Championship game, and now the Nittany Lions are one win away from punching their ticket into the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Nittany Lions beat #4 Michigan 7-5 in 10 innings to advance to the title game. Here's how it all went down:

QUIET THROUGH THREE

Penn State and Michigan were locked in a scoreless tie through the first three innings. Nittany Lion righthander Frankie Sanchez left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and didn't come back. Matt Morash entered the game in the bottom of the second inning, pitching his longest outing of the season with 4 shutout innings. 7 batters were struck out and 8 runners were left on base through the first three innings.

MALONEY STARTS THE RALLY

Penn State designated hitter Matt Maloney brought home Grant Norris and Bryce Molinaro on a single that turned into a two-base error from Michigan right fielder Stephen Hrustich. With this RBI base hit, Penn State took the first lead of the game. Matt Morash helped hold down the fort on the mound until he exited the game after the fifth inning.

WOLVERINES STRIKE BACK

Nittany Lions righthander Mason Horwat, looking to build off of a struggling performance against Illinois, entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. His second act was not welcomed, however, as Stephen Hrustich doubled to left field. A sacrifice groundout from Alex Caruso brought home the Wolverines' first run. Kyle Dernedde brought two runs home with a left-field double to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh, Stephen Hrustich brought home Mitch Voit on a standup triple, then scored from a wild pitch to help Michigan take a 5-3 lead.

NITTANY LIONS TIE IT UP

Penn State first baseman/center fielder Joe Jaconski led off the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run to right field to cut the Michigan lead to one. Three singles by JT Marr, Adam Cecere, and Grant Norris loaded up the bases for Bryce Molinaro. Molinaro tied the game with a single to right field. Anthony Steele left two Michigan runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a scoreless ninth, the two teams were ready for extra innings.

CECERE STEALS THE SHOW

In the top of the tenth inning, Adam Cecere did what he's been doing all season: blast the ball over the fence. He did just that with a go-ahead two-run home run to right field to score himself and JT Marr.

DEMELL SHUTS IT DOWN

Ben DeMell made quick work of the first two outs, striking out Cooper Mullens and forcing an unassisted groundout from Jonathan Kim. Michigan left fielder Mitch Voit cut the lead to one with a solo home run to left field. It was quickly after when the right fielder flew out to Joe Jaconski to seal the deal.

Box Score

#8 Penn State

HITTERS

1B/CF Jaconski (1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO)

C JT Marr (2-5, 2 R, 1 SO)

RF Cecere (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO) [PLAYER OF THE GAME]

LF Marsh (0-3, 3 SO)

• PH/2B Cease (0-2, 1 SO)

SS Norris (3-5, 1 R, 2 SO)

3B Molinaro (1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB)

DH Maloney (1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 SO)

CF/LF Kelley (0-3, 1 RBI, 2 SO)

2B Michaels (1-3)

• PR/1B Hannon (0-1)

PITCHERS

RHP Sanchez (1 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 2 BB, 0 ER)

LHP Morash (4 IP, 2 H, 3 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER) [PITCHER OF THE GAME]

RHP Horwat (1 IP, 4 H, 0 SO, 2 BB, 5 ER)

RHP Perkowski (1 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER) {Ejected in 7th inning}

LHP Steele (1 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 0 ER)

RHP DeMell (2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 1 ER)

#4 Michigan

HITTERS

CF Kim (2-6, 1 SO)

LF/1B Voit (3-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB)

RF Hrustich (3-6, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO)

DH Priest (0-3, 2 BB)

3B Caruso (0-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB)

• 1B Stanton (0-2, 1 SO)

PR/LF Velazquez (0-1, 1 R)

2B Timbrook (0-4, 1 R, 1 BB)

SS Dernedde (1-5, 2 RBI, 2 SO)

C Leitgeb (0-2, 1 SO)

• PH Mullens (0-1)

PITCHERS

RHP Barr (4 IP, 3 H, 6 SO, 3 BB, 1 ER)

RHP Denner (6 IP, 8 H, 9 SO, 0 BB, 4 ER)

Pitching Decisions

• W: RHP Ben DeMell (1-0)

• L: RHP Jacob Denner (9-5)