Penn State stuns Michigan, advances to B1G Tournament semifinals

Penn State needed five wins in its final six games of the regular season to reach the Big Ten Tournament this week in Omaha, Neb. The Nittany Lions have made the most of the opportunity.

Following a one-day delay due to weather on Tuesday, the No. 8-seed Nittany Lions toppled No. 1-seed Illinois on Wednesday. Delayed again into a late start on Thursday evening against No. 4-seed Michigan, Penn State did it again.

Paced by steady pitching from Jaden Henline and one massive at bat for Bryce Molinaro, Penn State earned a 9-5 win. The decision sends the Nittany Lions into a Saturday semifinal matchup, two wins away from an unprecedented berth in the NCAA Tournament.

How it happened

Penn State started strong, again taking an early lead with a run in the second inning. But, the Nittany Lions also missed early chances, leaving runners aboard while Henline was absolutely dealing and had eight strikeouts through four innings.

But, in the top of the fifth, Michigan’s Cole Caruso hit a blooper down the left field line. Catching the foul line, the hit was worth a double. The Wolverines capitalized as Will Rogers followed with a blast over the left field wall. What had been a 1-0 Penn State lead evaporated into a 2-1 deficit. 

The Nittany Lions wouldn’t let it last. Immediately bouncing back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, the seesaw put Penn State back on top, 3-2.

With Henline battling into the seventh inning, the Nittany Lion pitcher found more trouble late in his outing. Allowing two baserunners on first and second with two outs, though, Wednesday’s hero, Adam Cecere, provided his second massive defensive play of the night. Nailing Rogers with a bang-bang play at the plate, Penn State reached the eighth still holding onto its advantage.

Trouble arises for Penn State

Yesterday’s closer for Penn State, Anthony Steele, came in to relieve Henline in the eighth. But, disaster soon followed. He walked the first two batters of the inning. His next batter, Mitch Voit, cashed in on those chips with a shot deep over the left field wall and into the bleachers. What had been a tenuous Penn State lead for all but half an inning transformed into a 5-3 deficit with only six outs left to play.

The Nittany Lions wouldn’t need them.

Responding in the bottom of the eighth at the plate, Cecere singled to open the inning. Bobby Marsh immediately followed with his own single, sending Cecere to third. A walk to Grant Norris loaded the bases. And, with no outs, Bryce Molinaro emptied them with a dose of high drama. Catching a high fastball over the middle of the plate, he hit a grand slam into left-center to give Penn State a 7-5 lead. 

“That’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Molinaro told the BTN. “Every emotion possible. It was crazy. Just being cool, calm, and collectied. There’s never a big spot for me. I just let my craft do the talking and I got the job done. Big swing in a big moment and it got the boys going.”

Penn State forced a pitching change with the dinger, but the Lions weren’t finished. Getting two more aboard with one out, Kelley reaching first and Danny Cease soon following with a gutted-out infield single, another opportunity opened for J.T. Marr. The second-team All-Big Ten selection took advantage, singling in both runners to give the Nittany Lions a comfortable 9-5 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

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