Penn State was back home in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for its home opener against St. John’s on Wednesday.
The Nittany Lions defeated the Red Storm with a dominant victory of 12-2, giving Penn State a chance to turn its season around early at a 4-6 record.
The blue and white started out the first inning strong, setting the tone for the game with pitcher Frankie Sanchez notching a strikeout to leave the bases loaded, and a scoreless first inning.
Vanderbilt transfer Jayden Davis put Penn State on the board with its first home run, shortly followed by a ripping RBI triple hit by first-year shortstop Preston Yaucher.
Jesse Jaconski was able to run home, followed by a ground ball to second base from catcher Joey Demucci, enabling Yaucher to score, followed by center Maddox McDonald putting the team up 4-0 at the bottom of the second.
St. John’s failed to respond at the top of the third, with third baseman Jayder Raifstanger and right fielder Dylan Fitzsimmons left stranded as the team let up another out. The Nittany Lions didn’t score any runs in their half inning.
The Red Storm put up their first run of the game in the top of the fourth after two walks and a hit-by-pitch put catcher Sean Britt in a position to score. Left fielder Lewis Rodrig sent a hit hard into left field, putting the Red Storm on the board and the score 4-1.
The Nittany Lions responded with their second home run of the night by designated hitter Michael Anderson as he barreled the ball over the left field wall, allowing center fielder Cohl Mercado to score, as Penn State extended its lead to 6-1.
Penn State created a further gap between it and St. John’s, as Anderson blasted a 399-foot home run into center field, where he, Mercado and DeMucci scored, elevating the Nittany Lions’ lead to 9-2. It was Anderson’s second home run of the game as he was the main catalyst of the blue and white’s runs.
The sixth inning remained quiet, with neither team putting up any hits or runs, leaving St. John’s a chance to mount a comeback in the seventh inning.
However, that was silenced, as Anderson continued his hot day, hitting a ground ball through the right-side of the infield, scoring McDonald and DeMucci as the blue and white poured on the runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Nittany Lions led 11-2.
Mercado closed out the game for the Nittany Lions with a walk-off balk, putting an end to their commanding home opener.
Penn State notched 11 hits, three home runs and eight walks in a strong offensive showing. Anderson tallied seven RBIs, going 3-for-4 with a walk.
Up next
Penn State will travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech with the first game taking place at 7:30 p.m. EST on Friday.
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