While Penn State fans sat in Happy Valley in freezing temperatures, the Nittany Lions traveled Southwest to open the season.
Penn State played its first game of the MLB Desert Invitational against Air Force in Goodyear, Arizona, opening the season with a 15-3 loss.
Redshirt senior Colin Fitzgerald, who transferred to the blue and white from Maine, started on the mound on Day 1. His Penn State career opened on a high note, recording a groundout and strikeout.
After walking Walker Zapp, Fitzgerald recorded another groundout to close the top of the inning.
The bottom of the inning featured no movement for the Nittany Lions as Cohl Mercado, Jayden Davis and Jack Porter went 1-2-3 to end the first inning.
Fitzgerald slipped in his first throw of the second inning, as the Falcons found base on a single from outfielder Brooks Burdine. The Lititz, Pennsylvania, native then retired the next three batters, bringing the Nittany Lions back to the batter’s box, where they recorded another three outs.
Penn State opened the top of the third with a ground out, but quickly fell behind as Fitzgerald recorded back-to-back base on balls.
Back at the top of the lineup, Zapp recorded the first of two outs, bringing Penn State back to bat.
After a groundout by Kevin Karstetter to start the bottom of the third, the Nittany Lions looked to score after a single from Nate Voss turned into a third-base opportunity after a stolen base and a balk by Air Force’s Gaines Estridge.
Mercado started the top of the lineup with a walk, putting runners at first and third base.
However, Penn State’s scoring opportunity was put to rest as Mercado was thrown out trying to advance to second base.
Air Force quickly responded to that threat with its own scoring run, which found success in the top of the fourth. While throwing no outs, Fitzgerald walked Burdine, who stole second base, and allowed another pair of runners on base as he ultimately scored.
Up 1-0, the Falcons took advantage of Fitzgerald’s poor pitching and earned another run, leaving two on base as junior Kyle Emmons came on in relief of Fitzgerald.
Fortunately for Air Force, Emmons wasn’t having any luck either, as a throwing error allowed T.J. Oster to score and made it a three-run game.
Emmons escaped the top of the fourth with a pair of outs, sending the Nittany Lions back to bat. However, Porter, Bryce Molinaro and Spencer Barnett each recorded an out, giving the Falcons another chance to score.
Junior Mason Horwat, who recorded four wins in his 11 starts this year, took the mound for Emmons and was walked all over by Air Force.
Horwat recorded one out before allowing three runners on base, each who scored and took a 6-0 lead to the bottom of the fifth.
With four innings down, Penn State only recorded one hit, and that abysmal record continued as just Voss made his way onto the base from a hit. Outfielder Justin Turcovski recorded a walk, but both were sent back to the dugout after a Mercado flyout.
With the Nittany Lions back on the mound, Horwat let another pair of runners find their way home as Air Force pulled ahead by eight runs. After two outs by Davis and Porter, Molinaro walked onto base, but Penn State was sent back with its third out.
Penn State tabbed its fourth pitcher of the night in freshman Ethan Bauerschmidt, who started strong with a pair of outs. However, the Falcons found their way back on the scoreboard after an error by Molinaro sent Trip Garrish home, followed by three more runners.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Nittany Lions scored their first two runs of the day off Karstetter and Voss. Through the two scores, Penn State only recorded one hit, but Air Force had a walk, a wild pitch and hit Voss with the pitch.
The Nittany Lions’ attempted comeback continued with another run by Turcovski, but freshman pitcher Robert Brown III let in another four runs for Air Force, taking a 15-3 lead for the mercy rule.
Up next
Penn State continues the MLB Desert Invitational with a 3 p.m. matchup against Grand Canyon on Saturday.
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