For the first time since the George W. Bush administration, Penn State baseball is going to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
A grand slam by Bryce Molinaro in the bottom of the eight turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead, and PSU added a pair of insurance runs before closing the deal on a 9-5 win over Michigan.
BRYCE MOLINARO!!! GRAND SLAM!!!
B8 | PSU 7, MICH 5#WeAre pic.twitter.com/NrXWWIvFPc
— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) May 24, 2024
2007 was the last time Penn State made it to the Big Ten semis, and the Michigan win followed up a first-round upset of Big Ten regular-season champion Illinois.
PSU got the scoring started in the bottom of the second. Matt Maloney doubled to start the inning, then Tayven Kelley singled to score Maloney and advanced to second due to an error by Michigan left fielder AJ Garcia.
Michigan answered in the top of the fourth, taking its first lead on a two-run homer by Will Rogers.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.But Penn State retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth when a single by J.T. Marr scored Kevin Michaels to make it 3-2.
It stayed 3-2 until the top of the eighth when Michigan retook the lead on a three-run homer by Mitch Voit.
But Molinario’s grand slam and the subsequent insurance sunk Michigan and propelled Penn State into the semis.
Jaden Henline did an excellent job on the mound for Penn State, giving up two runs and striking out nine over seven innings. Molinaro had three hits, including the grand slam, Marr had two doubles and three RBI and Adam Cecere added three hits.
Penn State now takes on the winner of Michigan and Illinois, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, at 2 on the Big Ten Network.
