Penn State Stomps St. Bonaventure on Dollar Dog Night

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Dollar Dog Night gave the fans plenty of offense to feast their eyes upon as they cheered on the Nittany Lions while devouring 7,506 hot dogs. The atmosphere was electric at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, where Penn State took down St. Bonaventure by a final score of 10-5.

The game got off to an exciting start immediately in the bottom of the first inning. Taking advantage of an early fielding error by St. Bonaventure, the Nittany Lions wasted no time in building their lead.

A barrage of timely singles, smart baserunning, and key extra-base hits kept the momentum on Penn State’s side throughout the contest.

Third baseman Bryce Molinaro collected two hits, including a triple off the wall, and walked twice while driving in two runs. Cohl Mercado, Ryan Weingartner and Cole Wagner also came through with multi-hit performances.

The biggest swing of the game for St. Bonaventure came in the top of the sixth inning when lefty first baseman Morgan Little cranked a solo home run well over the right-center field wall, cutting through a knifing wind that had already knocked down several potential long balls earlier in the contest.

That swing made it a 5-3 ball game. It was the first homer of the year for Little, who mashed six last season.

Penn State’s offensive spark kept burning late into the game, as a two-run single by Wagner in the top of the eighth pushed the score to 10-4, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Bonnies.

Despite making several fine plays on defense, St. Bonaventure couldn’t overcome a series of miscues with its gloves in important spots with runners on base. Meanwhile, Penn State’s bullpen held firm.

The Nittany Lions opted to go with a bullpen game instead of a traditional starting pitcher, and the results were solid.

Their effort was highlighted by Harrison Lollin, who worked two innings while striking out four batters, Riley Weatherwax, who struck out the side in his lone inning of work, and Anthony Steele, who came in to shut the door and struck out three batters.

Steele’s steady work while navigating a lead-off walk and an error that brought in a run helped block any potential comeback from the Bonnies.

After the final out, Penn State head coach Mike Gambino reflected on the game with a mix of happiness from the win and the knowledge that his squad could do even better.

“There were moments where we thought about execution. We had a couple of pitches there that didn’t come off as we’d hoped,” Gambino said. “But the guys stepped up when it mattered most. It’s not just the stats; it’s the quality at-bats and the energy they bring.”

Gambino emphasized just how important every play was in the game, even when it seemed his team was running away with the game.

Gambino also mentioned that he has complete trust in his players who haven’t performed at the level they are capable of.

“Ryan Weingartner has been unlucky at times, but you can see the effort he puts in every play,” Gambino said.

When asked about Bryce Molinaro's presence, Gambino praised his young infielder, saying, “I will tell you, his quality at the plate is off the charts – the energy, toughness, and grit he brings are invaluable. He’s on base 50% of the time, and that’s something special.”

Harrison Lollin picked up the win for Penn State, his second victory of the season. Starting pitcher Jaxson Ross was tagged with the loss for the Bonnies.

With this memorable win marking the team’s best start in decades, Penn State’s season is off to a sizzling start, both on the field and at the concession stands.

As the Nittany Lions prepare for their next challenge tomorrow night against Lafayette, their combination of offensive firepower, strong defense and clutch bullpen work promises to bring us even more exciting baseball throughout the conclusion of the season.

With the victory, Penn State now sits at 15-4, marking its best start to a season since 1979.

Dominick Pizzelanti is a second-year student dual-majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email dqp5565@psu.edu.