Nittany Lions Kick Off 2026 in Scottsdale for MLB Desert Invitational (Weekend Preview)

Penn State (33-23, 15-15 Big Ten) vs. Air Force (20-34, 12-18 Mountain West)

Penn State (33-23, 15-15 Big Ten) vs. Grand Canyon (31-27, 13-11 WAC)

Penn State (33-23, 15-15 Big Ten) vs. Kansas State (32-26, 17-13 Big 12)

Dates: February 13–15

Game Times (EST)

• vs. Air Force – February 13, 8:00 PM

• vs. Grand Canyon – February 14, 3:00 PM

• vs. Kansas State – February 15, 2:00 PM

Locations (Scottsdale, AZ)

• vs. Air Force – Goodyear Ballpark

  • Capacity: ~9,500

• vs. Grand Canyon – Salt River Fields

  • Capacity: 11,000

• vs. Kansas State – Sloan Park

  • Capacity: 15,000

Coverage

• TV

  • February 13 & 15 – MLB.com (streaming info TBD, check @PennStateBASE on X)

  • February 14 – MLBN

• Radio

  • Kansas State – The Varsity Network

• Live Stats/Pregame Lineups

  • MLB.com (fan-focused)

  • StatBroadcast (Penn State)

Storylines

Quick Preview: Year Three

The third season of the Mike Gambino era kicks off in Scottsdale this weekend for the MLB Desert Invitational, though the preseason hype is yet to be completely present.

The Nittany Lion depth will be tested early and often this weekend, namely against a team who made the Austin Regional last year in Kansas State on Sunday.

Anderson, Fitzgerald, Molinaro Named Big Ten Players to Watch

Two transfers (Michael Anderson and Colin Fitzgerald) and a returnee (Bryce Molinaro) were tabbed as part of the Big Ten Players to Watch list ahead of the beginning of the 2026 season.

Fitzgerald transferred from Maine as the Friday starter and will hold the same role at Penn State, whereas Michael Anderson is a two-way talent from Arkansas who will play some part of the outfield this year.

Source: Big Ten Releases Preseason Baseball Poll and Players to Watch List

Zapp Selected For All-Conference Team

Catcher Walker Zapp was the lone Falcon named to the Perfect Game Mountain West All-Conference Team last Tuesday.

Zapp returns after touting a .330 batting average with 43 runs driven in during last season and caught 11 runners stealing in 66 attempts.

Source: PG College Baseball on X

Lopes Expected to Make Early Impact in New Conference

Grand Canyon made the switch from the WAC to the Mountain West during the offseason and has been picked third in the preseason conference poll.

The only teams the Lopes trail behind are Nevada, who won the regular season title last year, and Fresno State, who earned the conference’s auto-bid in 2025.

Source: Grand Canyon University Athletics

Wildcats Look to Become National Brand

Kansas State earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season and went 1-2 in the Austin Regional, though that aim is only the start for this team.

Head coach Pete Hughes said that the Wildcats are “determined to play in Omaha at the end of the year” and hopes that the selection committee sees them as part of the bubble “no matter what our body of work is.”

Source: The Topeka Capital Journal

Head-to-Head History

Air Force: Penn State is 0-0 against Air Force all-time.

Grand Canyon: Penn State is 0-3 against Grand Canyon all-time, with the lone series being on the weekend of March 8–10, 2018 when Grand Canyon swept Penn State.

Kansas State: Penn State is 1-3 against Kansas State all-time, with the most recent matchup being on the weekend of February 16–17 when Kansas State swept Penn State two games to zero at a neutral site. Penn State last beat Kansas State on March 13, 1994 in a 5-3 neutral-site victory.

Source: 2026 PSU Baseball Record Book

MLB Desert Invitational: By The Numbers

*All stats (team & individual) are 2025 stats unless otherwise noted.

Penn State	Batting	Air Force	Grand Canyon	Kansas State
.272	Batting Average	.282	.295	.278
.382	On-Base Pct	.376	.391	.381
81 (1.45)	Home Runs (per game)	43 (0.80)	65 (1.12)	97 (1.67)

Penn State	Pitching	Air Force	Grand Canyon	Kansas State
5.99	Earned Run Avg	7.36	6.37	5.89
.280	Opponent Batting Avg	.320	.304	.271
445 (7.95)	Strikeouts (per game)	374 (6.93)	464 (8.00)	507 (8.74)
270 (4.82)	Walks (per game)	240 (4.44)	205 (3.53)	241 (4.16)

Probable Starting Pitchers (unofficial)

*Starting pitchers will be showcased by the date they play Penn State.

Penn State

1. RHP Colin Fitzgerald, R-Sr. (5-6, 3.68 ERA) (Maine transfer)

2. RHP Benjamin Hudson, So. (3-1, 3.95 ERA) (West Virginia transfer)

3. RHP Isaiah Shayter, Fr.

   1. #4 RHP in Pennsylvania Class of 2025 (Perfect Game)

   2. 2025 Fall (3 games/0 starts): 0-0, 0.00 ERA

Air Force (Friday): RHP Gaines Estridge, Jr. (1-4, 9.33 ERA)

Grand Canyon (Saturday): RHP Nicholas Robb, Jr. (1-4, 9.33 ERA) (UT Arlington transfer)

Kansas State (Sunday): RHP Tanner Duke, R-Jr. (2-3, 4.97 ERA)

Top Bullpen Pitchers

Penn State

• RHP Dimond Loosli, Sr. (22 app, 33 IP, 3.82 ERA, 1.57 WHIP)

• RHP Ben DeMell, R-Sr. (24 app, 40.2 IP, 4.65 ERA, 1.72 WHIP)

• RHP Kyle Emmons, Jr. (19 app, 27 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) (Towson transfer)

Air Force

• RHP Patrick Davidson, Jr. (18 app, 37.2 IP, 4.30 ERA, 3 saves)

• LHP Sam Hentges, Jr. (19 app, 22.1 IP, 6.85 ERA, 2.37 WHIP)

• LHP Joey Collier, Sr. (17 app, 21.1IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP)

Grand Canyon

• RHP J.T. Guerrero, Jr. (25 app, 40 IP, 5.85 ERA, 6 saves) (Fresno State transfer)

• RHP Elijah Higginbottom, Sr. (18 app, 50 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP)

• RHP Cam Cunnings, Sr. (18 app, 21.1 IP, 5.91 ERA, 2.06 WHIP)

Kansas State

• RHP James Guyette, Jr. (24 app, 51.2 IP, 4.70 ERA, 4 saves)

• RHP Cohen Feser, R-Sr. (18 app, 25.1 IP, 4.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) (TCU transfer)

• LHP Adam Arther, Jr. (21 app, 25.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)

Top Hitters/Runners

Penn State

1. SS Bryce Molinaro, R-Jr. (.267|.373|.502, 13 hr, 61 rbi, 8 sb)

2. 3B Kevin Karstetter, Gr. (.332|.414|.500, 5 hr, 48 rbi, 20 sb) (Tampa transfer)

3. LF Jesse Jaconski, Sr. (.298|.368|.551, 12 hr, 54 rbi, 7 sb)

Air Force

1. C Walker Zapp, Sr. (.330|.420|.579, 6 hr, 44 rbi, 8 sb)

2. 1B Luke Elmore, Jr. (.304|.387|.446, 6 hr, 37 rbi, 6 sb)

3. LF Christian Taylor, Jr. (.295|.371|.426, 3 hr, 40 rbi, 14 sb)

Grand Canyon

1. DH Mito Perez, Gr. (.306|.422|.388, 3 hr, 36 rbi, 10 sb) (Tarleton transfer)

2. 1B Cannon Peery, Jr. (.317|.381|.479, 3 hr, 38 rbi, 2 sb)

3. LF Carson Ohland, Jr. (.240|.344|.370, 3 hr, 15 rbi)

Kansas State

1. 2B Grant Gallagher, Sr. (.277|.473|.676, 21 hr, 52 rbi, 4 sb) (ETSU transfer)

2. 3B Dee Kennedy, Jr. (.279|.381|.505, 11 hr, 43 rbi, 12 sb)

3. RF A.J. Evasco, So. (.311|.380|.554, 11 hr, 52 rbi, 3 sb)

Quick Picks & Analysis

Air Force

Bryan: This seems like an offensive dogfight on paper, but Loosli gives Penn State the edge. The Nittany Lions will cruise in this one. Penn State 13, Air Force 4.

Grand Canyon

Bryan: The potential “slip-up” game looks to be inevitable, especially with some proximity advantage for the Lopes. Despite this, the Nittany Lions have an opportunity and won’t miss.. Penn State 7, Grand Canyon 5.

Kansas State

Bryan: The Wildcats look to be the juggernaut no one wants to face in this event. In the first proving point of the season, a walk-off heartbreaker will befall the blue and white. Kansas State 4, Penn State 3.