HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Penn State baseball team battled until the end in a very tight game against No. 15 West Virginia on Wednesday at Meritus Park in Hagerstown. The Nittany Lions fell 3-1 to the Mountaineers.

Penn State dropped to 10-24 overall, while West Virginia, ranked No. 15 in the D1Baseball Poll, improved to 25-8.

The Nittany Lions held the Mountaineers to no runs and just two hits over the final 5.1 frames.

Mason Butash earned the start for the Nittany Lions, working 2.1 innings. He allowed three runs on two hits and a walk. Butash recorded two strikeouts. Harrison Lollin tossed 3.1 shutout innings. He gave up three hits and a walk, while striking out one. Mason Horwat worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up one hit. Dimond Loosli fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning and secured two strikeouts.

David Hagen got the start for West Virginia, going three innings. He gave up one run on one hit. Hagen walked two batters and struck out one. Ian Korn fired two shutout innings, giving up two hits and recording three strikeouts. Weston Smith threw a scoreless frame, surrendering one hit. Reese Bassinger picked up the save with three scoreless innings and four strikeouts, while giving up one hit and one walk.

Penn State plated one run on five hits. Jack Porter recorded a three-hit night, including a solo homer and a double. Michael Anderson singled and reached base four times with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Kevin Karstetter added a single.

West Virginia registered three runs on six hits. Paul Schoenfeld notched two hits, including a double and a solo homer. Sean Smith contributed an RBI single and Gavin Kelly drove in a run. Brock Wills added a triple, among two hits, and a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

West Virginia got on the board in the first. With two outs, Paul Schoenfeld lifted an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right. The Mountaineers led 1-0.

The Nittany Lions evened the game in the second. Leading off the inning, Jack Porter hammered a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left. The game was tied at 1-1.

The Mountaineers re-took the lead in the third. With one out, Brock Wills landed a fly ball in the corner in left and hustled to third for a triple. After Matt Ineich worked a walk, Gavin Kelly lifted a sac fly to center to bring in Wills. Schoenfeld ripped a double to left to put runners on second and third. Sean Smith’s line drive back to the pitcher was deflected and allowed Smith to reach on a single as Ineich crossed the plate. WVU held a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the sixth, with one out, Porter lined a double to the right-center gap. Porter moved up to third on a flyout to right by Jayden Davis. However, another flyout to right ended the inning.

Up Next

The Nittany Lions return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a three-game series against Rutgers on April 17-19.

Friday is set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch on 800 Strong Night, encouraging Penn State student-athletes to attend.

Saturday is Ice Cream Day, featuring Double Play Peanut Butter Cup Presented By Penn State Baseball, and postgame autographs. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

Sunday is a 1 p.m. start as we host the Nittany Lion’s Birthday Party. Sunday also includes postgame kids run the bases.

All games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free for all ages.