Penn State returned to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against Iowa for a chance at a series win in the first Big Ten weekend of the campaign.
However, after a blowout loss on Saturday, it was déjà vu in the final matchup as the Hawkeyes came away with a 12-4 win.
Isaiah Shayter got the nod for the blue and white, and while he allowed multiple base runners, he escaped with no damage on a force out at second.
Penn State got the bats going in the bottom half of the inning, as Jayden Davis and Michael Anderson reached base on a leadoff walk and a double to left field.
A Spencer Barnett sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Jack Porter put the blue and white ahead 2-0.
Shayter maintained a strong inning, allowing just one hit while striking out two Hawkeyes, before the Nittany Lions went three up, three down in the bottom of the second.
Penn State extended its lead in the third inning as Anderson continued his hot weekend. An RBI single brought home Davis, who scored from second after his leadoff double. While the blue and white threatened for more runs, Maddux Frese shut down any other opportunity.
The top of the fourth is when Iowa got to Shayter. An RBI double from Kooper Schulte started the rally. Three batters later, Gable Mitchell sent a single through the right side that scored two runs. Both runs were marked as unearned to Shayter after a throwing error in the prior at-bat from Penn State shortstop Preston Yaucher.
Mason Horwat replaced Shayter a batter later and allowed two straight hits, including a two-RBI double from Caleb Wulf.
Horwat hit the next two batters, allowing a free runner to score, making it 6-3 Iowa, with all six runs coming with zero or one outs. Kyle Emmons took the mound in place of Horwat, marking the third pitcher for the blue and white in the fourth inning alone. Emmons allowed a runner to score on a groundout, but escaped with no further damage.
Now trailing 7-3, Penn State looked to respond in the bottom of the fourth, but three straight batters were sent back to the dugout after a leadoff walk from Jesse Jaconski.
The fifth inning was pretty silent, except that a Bryce Molinaro fielder’s choice allowed Anderson to score, pulling the deficit to just three.
Iowa erupted again in the seventh inning with four runs on four hits. Six straight batters reached base, allowing those four runs to score on two singles and a double.
Outfielder Joey Nerat added to the Hawkeyes’ lead in the top of the eighth. Nerat sent a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall, expanding Iowa’s lead to 12-4.
Penn State couldn’t find any more success at the plate, falling to the Hawkeyes 12-4 in the Big Ten opening series.
The Nittany Lions were outhit 13-6, while the pitching staff allowed nine free batters to reach base on walks or hit by pitches.
Up next
The blue and white will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, for a matchup with the Mountaineers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Returning home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Penn State immediately turned around all neg…
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