Penn State entered its first, and potentially last, elimination game of the tournament as it took on USC in a winner-take-all game for Pool D.
In a low-scoring affair, the Nittany Lions took down the Trojans to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, 2-1.
The blue and white got on the board early. An RBI single from third baseman Bryce Molinaro allowed centerfielder Paxton Kling to score from second, putting the team up 1-0 in the first inning.
Penn State worked the pitch count of USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki during the early innings. Long at-bats and the ability to stay alive with foul balls pushed Aoki’s pitch count to 46 through two innings of work, but Aoki kept the score at 1-0, allowing the Trojans to get the bats going in the second inning.
Centerfielder Brayden Dowd reached on an infield single, allowing Abbrie Covarrubius to score from third and tie the game at 1-1. USC threatened in the third inning, as well. First baseman Adrian Lopez laced a double down the left field line.
With a runner on, a run was likely to score. However, Penn State left fielder Jesse Jaconski’s throw to Ryan Weingartner and the shortstop’s relay to home gunned the runner out at home, keeping the score tied.
Despite consistent threats from both offenses, Aoki and Penn State’s bullpen restricted runs, maintaining the 1-1 score through four innings.
USC had a major scoring opportunity in the sixth inning. Facing reliever Matt Morash, the Trojans forced a walk before second baseman Kade Higgins lined a double to left field, but they couldn’t convert despite two runners in scoring position.
Morash forced a pop-up before intentionally walking USC’s biggest threat, third baseman Ethan Hedges. Reliever Dimond Loosli replaced Morash, and it took him just one pitch to force a flyout and end the sixth frame.
The Nittany Lions posed a threat to break the tie in the seventh inning. After a bloop single from catcher Nate Voss, second baseman Derek Cease dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving Voss to second, but Aoki forced two straight outs to leave the top of the seventh inning unscathed.
The defenses were out in full force. Molinaro made a diving play at third base to send down the Trojans in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, the Trojans turned a 6-4-3 double play to send Penn State down in just three batters.
The game was about as even as possible, with the game tied 1-1 and hits tied 6-6 through seven innings.
The eighth inning brought another scoring opportunity for USC. Left fielder Jack Basseer reached on a single and reached third after stealing second as Voss’ throw sailed to the outfield. Despite the runner on third, Loosli struck out the final batter of the inning with a fastball, maintaining the 1-1 score at the end of the frame.
After a misthrow into the outfield in the previous half inning, Voss had a chance to make up for his error. He did just that, launching a no-doubt solo home run to left field to put a run on the board for the first time since the second inning.
Holding a 2-1 lead, reliever Chase Renner entered the game to face the meat of USC’s lineup in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to seal the win.
Renner forced a flyout and a strikeout, bringing the Nittany Lions just one out away from advancing. He forced a flyout, and the blue and white defeated USC 2-1 to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
Up Next
Penn State advances to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and will face the winner of No. 1-seed Oregon and No. 8-seed Nebraska at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Injury Report
First baseman Cole Wagner remains out of the lineup with a broken bone in his wrist.
Designated hitter Jack Porter will likely be out of the lineup for the entire tournament.
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