UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team dropped a 9-0 decision against Bucknell on Wednesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Bison jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first and three in the third and cruised to victory.

The Nittany Lions are now 7-16 overall, while Bucknell improved to 11-11.

Ethan Bauerschmidt made the start on the mound for the Nittany Lions, working 2.1 innings. He gave up five runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out one. Mason Butash tossed 1.2 scoreless frames, collecting four strikeouts.

Harrison Lollin threw one inning, surrendering one run and striking out two batters. Skip Shenosky worked two innings, giving up three runs on three hits and striking out five. Logan Olson threw two-thirds of an inning before Matthew VanOstenbridge finished the eighth. Dimond Loosli threw a scoreless ninth.

Frankie Bilecki got the start for Bucknell, firing four shutout innings. He allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out one batter. Dante Pavone tossed three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and three walks, while recording four strikeouts. Mikey Myro threw the final two innings.

Penn State recorded five hits. Spencer Barnett, Jayden Davis, Joey DeMucci, Cohl Mercado and Jack Porter each had a single.

Bucknell plated nine runs on 12 hits. Michael Trommer tallied two hits, including a two-run homer. Zach Selfon went four-for-five with a double and two RBI. Billy Fluharty added two hits and two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Bucknell got on the board in the first. Billy Fluharty lined a single to right to begin the game. Michael Trommer lifted the first pitch he saw over the wall in center. The Bison led 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, Cohl Mercado reached on a single to left to begin the frame. Michael Anderson was hit by a pitch. Bryce Molinaro held off on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. However, a flyout ended the inning.

The Bison added three runs in the third. Deacon Bowne led off the inning with a double to left. After a walk by Billy Fluharty and a hit-by-pitch by Trommer, Garrett Mathias worked a walk to bring in Bowne. A fly ball by Zach Selfon landed in left field for a single to score Fluharty. Lleyton Coupe bounced into a fielder’s choice but allowed Trommer to cross the plate. Bucknell held a 5-0 lead.

Bucknell plated a run in the fifth. Ty Lagoni started the inning with a single into left. A single by Mathias put runners at first and second. Selfon snuck a grounder inside the first base bag and hustled to second for a double as Lagoni scored. The Bison pushed its lead to 6-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Anderson and Jack Porter drew one-out walks. A single to right by Spencer Barnett loaded the bases but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.

The Bison added on in the seventh. With one out, Selfon singled and Coupe was hit by a pitch. Pinch-hitter John Calabrese lined a single to center to bring in Selfon. After a walk by Andrew Swenson, Fluharty smacked a single into left to bring in Coupe and Calabrese. Bucknell led 9-0.

UP NEXT

The Nittany Lions welcome Illinois for a three-game Big Ten series next weekend.

Friday is set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday is slated to start at 2 p.m. and Sunday is set for an 11 a.m. start.