Penn State entered Game 3 of its weekend series against Illinois coming off a 16-5 loss and a split series.
Ultimately, the Nittany Lions added to their loss column after a 6-0 defeat, losing the conference series after winning the opening game of the weekend.
The first inning was effective for the blue and white. Freshman Isaiah Shayter started on the mound for the Nittany Lions. After a walk and a strikeout, Joey DeMucci threw Michael Farina out on a stolen base attempt to second to end the inning.
Aidan Flinn started on the mound for the Fighting Illini and didn’t allow any Nittany Lions to get on base.
Shayter returned to the mound for the second inning, walking AJ Putty for the first at-bat. After Jennings and Schuppman were both flied out, Will Johannes hit his third double of the weekend for Illinois, sending Putty home to put the Fighting Illini up 1-0.
Flinn held Penn State scoreless at the bottom of the second. While the freshman walked Molinaro, he struck out Maddox McDonald to end the inning unscathed.
While Farina got on base after an infield single, no others followed and Penn State started off the third inning with no runs allowed. Illinois replicated Penn State’s inning, striking out DeMucci and forcing groundouts out to both Yaucher and Mercado, to hold the game standstill at 1-0.
Putty was first at bat for Illinois, splitting the field with a ground ball to center field to get on base. This momentum didn’t last, however, after Jennings was flied out and Davis led a double play to end the inning.
Despite Penn State getting players on all bases, after an Anderson and Porter single, Illinois converted a double play to end the inning, and went into the fifth inning still up 1-0.
The fifth inning was a bunting game for Illinois. After Johannes singled to shortstop, Brayden Mazzacano’s bunt allowed Johannes to stay at third. Nelson followed with a bunt of his own, sending Johannes home for Illinois’ second run. The Fighting Illini brought in another run after Farina hit a sacrifice fly and Mazzacano hustled home.
Reed Gannon had a successful start to his relief duties, striking out McDonald and setting up two ground balls to keep Penn State scoreless in the fifth inning.
Isaiah Shayter remained on the mound for the blue and white, but after one strikeout, Penn State subbed in Dimond Loosli to take over for Shayter, with the starter totaling 79 pitches on the day.
DeMucci ended the inning by throwing out Schupmann’s steal attempt at second, for the second time of the game, showcasing his defensive capabilities behind the plate.
In an attempt to close the margin in the latter part of the sixth, Anderson followed up Mercado’s groundout with a hard-hit ground ball down the third base line for a double. While he was in scoring position, Anderson didn’t score and Penn State was still shut out come the seventh inning, despite the scoring opportunities.
Illinois added to its run tally after a Nelson double and a throwing error by Molinaro. Groves joined shortly after with a single of his own, sending Nelson home for the Fighting Illini’s fifth run.
Penn State sent in freshman Robert Brown III to take over the mound with one out. The blue and white escaped the inning, holding Illinois from there, as Brown shut the door. The Fighting Illini led 5-0.
In the bottom of the seventh, Molinaro’s base hit reached second after a Farina fielding error. Molinaro’s base running remained solo as Davis and DeMucci struck out and McDonald flew out, keeping the blue and white off the board.
At the top of the eighth, Penn State opted to switch its pitcher for the third time, sending sophomore Matthew VanOstenbridge in to take over the mound.
The left-handed pitcher walked both Johannes and Mezzacano. Nelson slapped a ball past second base to center field, sending Johannes home for Illinois’ sixth run. Following the energy spurt for the Fighting Illini, VanOstenbridge closed out the inning, striking out Groves, with the score 6-0.
Penn State failed to respond for the eighth and ninth innings, after a quick three outs from Illinois each time. The blue and white became Illinois’ second shutout of the year.
Up Next
Penn State will stay home on Wednesday, where they will face UCF for a nonconference game.
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