Medlar Field sees record-breaking attendance as Penn State falls to Kent State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State hosted Kent State at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, April 16 for another record-breaking Dollar Dog night, selling 8,591 hot dogs.

Tuesdays at Medlar Field have become all the talk around campus as the weather has reached 70 degrees and the hot dogs are selling for one dollar a piece.

Along with the record-breaking amount of hot dogs sold, the Medlar Field attendance record was also shattered with 5,025 fans in the stadium.

“We all just take it in. If you have that second you just look in the stands and you're like, wow. I mean, it's amazing. Our fan base is unbelievable right now and the boys love it,” third baseman Bryce Molinaro said.

In Tuesday night’s matchup, Kent State struck early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning by center fielder Josh Johnson and first baseman Tim Orr.

The Golden Flashes ultimately never looked back, taking a 5-0 lead at the top of the fifth inning.

Rocco Bernadina threw five strikeouts for Kent State through the first five innings.

In a bases-loaded scenario in the bottom of the fifth, Penn State finally put themselves on the board after Bobby Marsh was hit with a pitch, walking home Molinaro.

Kent State pitcher Caden Leonard silenced the Nittany Lions in innings six and seven all while the Flashes increased their lead to 9-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

J.T. Marr singled to right field and Molinaro walked. Matt Maloney fired a single to left field sending Marr home and then on a wild pitch by Gavin Jones, Molinaro scored as well.

Heading into the top of the ninth the score stood at 9-3 but after a few Penn State errors Kent State was able to tally another run.

The Nittany Lions couldn’t work out a miracle, losing the game 10-3.

Kent State tallied 10 runs and 13 hits to trump Penn State’s three runs and eight hits.

Penn State is on a three-game losing streak after losing games two and three in their three-game series against Indiana last weekend.

“A three-game losing streak is irrelevant in my head. I always tell the boys this next game is the most important one of the season and I’ll say ‘why? Because it's the next one," head coach Mike Gambino said.

This puts the Lions at 18-15 on the season with a big three-game series against Michigan State ahead.

Penn State pitcher Mason Butash started for the Nittany Lions and let up five hits and four runs in the first three innings. The Lions are 1-3 with Butash starting.

Third baseman Bryce Molinaro has been hot at the plate recently. He recently broke his 14-game hitting streak against Indiana but made up for it on Tuesday with two big hits for the Nittany Lions.

“I always preach positive self-talk, it’s what I always do. It's not more so my hitting streak it’s just going out there with the same attitude. I strike out, whatever. I get a hit, whatever. It’s behind me and I just kept going to the next,” Molinaro said.

The Nittany Lions travel to East Lansing, Michigan this weekend to take on the Spartans in hopes of a playoff push. The boys return back home for a matchup against West Virginia on Wednesday, April 24.

Gia Sabatino is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email gms6168@psu.edu.