Penn State Nittany Lions baseball
Baseball team of Penn State University
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The Penn State Nittany Lions baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate athletic team of the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States. The team competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I and are members of the Big Ten Conference.
Founded1893 (132 years ago)
Conference historyAtlantic 10 (1983–1991)
UniversityPennsylvania State University
| Penn State Nittany Lions baseball | |
|---|---|
 2026 Penn State Nittany Lions baseball team | |
 | |
| Founded | 1893 (132 years ago) |
| Conference history | Atlantic 10 (1983–1991) |
| University | Pennsylvania State University |
| Athletic director | Pat Kraft |
| Head coach | Mike Gambino (3rd season) |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Location | University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Home stadium | Medlar Field at Lubrano Park (capacity: 5,570) |
| Nickname | Nittany Lions |
| Colors | Blue and white[1] |
| College World Series runner-up | |
| 1957 | |
| College World Series appearances | |
| 1952, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1973 | |
| NCAA regional champions | |
| 2000 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 2000 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| 1996 | |
History
Penn State has played baseball continuously since 1893.[citation needed] The Nittany Lions currently play their home games at 5,570-seat Medlar Field, a facility that opened in 2006 and that they share with the State College Spikes of the MLB Draft League.
After spending most of their history as an Independent, the Nittany Lions joined the Atlantic 10 Conference ahead of the 1983 season. In 1989, Penn State announced plans to join the Big Ten Conference for all sports, beginning baseball play in the Big Ten in 1992.[2] Since joining the conference, Penn State won the 1996 regular season title and has advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game twice, most recently in 2024.
Throughout its history, Penn State has played in 17 NCAA baseball tournaments, advancing to the College World Series 5 times, and finishing as runners-up to California in 1957. Penn State's most recent College World Series appearance came in 1973 while its most recent NCAA tournament berth came in 2000, when the Nittany Lions won the Rutgers-hosted Montclair Regional before falling to Texas in the Austin Super Regional.
The Nittany Lions have been coached by Mike Gambino since the 2024 season.
Penn State in the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The Nittany Lions have played in 17 tournaments and advanced to the College World Series in 1952, 1957, 1959, 1963, and 1973, finishing as the runners-up to California in 1957.
| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 2–2 | .500 | College World Series, 3rd place |
| 1955 | 0-1 | .000 | Lost in District 2 Semifinals |
| 1956 | 0-1 | .000 | Lost in District 2 Semifinals |
| 1957 | 5–2 | .714 | College World Series, 2nd place |
| 1958 | 0–1 | .000 | Lost in District 2 Semifinals |
| 1959 | 4–2 | .667 | College World Series, 3rd place |
| 1962 | 0–1 | .000 | Lost in District 2 Semifinals |
| 1963 | 3–2 | .600 | College World Series, 5th place |
| 1967 | 1–2 | .333 | District 2 Semifinals |
| 1970 | 1-2 | .333 | District 2 Semifinals |
| 1971 | 1-2 | .333 | District 2 Semifinals |
| 1972 | 2–2 | .500 | District 2 Finals |
| 1973 | 3–2 | .600 | College World Series, 7th place |
| 1974 | 0-2 | .000 | District 2 Semifinals |
| 1975 | 1–2 | .333 | Mideast Regional |
| 1976 | 0–2 | .000 | Northeast Regional |
| 2000 | 4–3 | .571 | Austin Super Regional |
TOTALS |
27–31 | .466 |
College World Series
Penn State baseball has appeared in the College World Series five times. Its best result was runner-up in 1957.[3][4]
Championship Results
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1952 | 4 |
| 1957 | 2 |
| 1959 | 4 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1973 | 8 |
Super Regionals[4]
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
Regionals[4]
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1975 | 3 |
| 1975 | 4 |
| 1974 | 4 |
| 1973 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 |
| 1971 | 3 |
| 1970 | 3 |
| 1967 | 3 |
| 1963 | 1 |
| 1962 | 3 |
| 1959 | 1 |
| 1958 | 3 |
| 1957 | 1 |
| 1956 | 3 |
| 1955 | 3 |
All-Time Scores
- 1952 (2-2)
- Penn State. 5, Texas 3
- Penn State 12, Duke 7
- Missouri 3, Penn State 2
- Holy Cross 15, Penn State 4
- 1957 (3-2)
- Penn State 7, Florida State 0
- Penn State 4, Texas 1
- California 8, Penn State 0
- Penn State 5, Notre Dame 4
- California 1, Penn State 0
- 1959 (2-2)
- Penn State 5, Connecticut 3
- Oklahoma State 8, Penn State 6
- Penn St. 7, Clemson 0
- Oklahoma State 4, Penn State 3
- 1963 (1-2)
- Arizona 8, Penn State 1
- Penn State 3, Western Michigan 0
- Texas 6, Penn State 4 (10 innings)
- 1973 (0-2)
- Arizona State 3, Penn State 1
- Oklahoma 6, Penn State 0
Awards
Jace Diesing Sr. Most Outstanding Player Award
- 1957: Cal Emery
Season by Season Result
| Season | League | Conference | Head coach | Conference Results | Regular Season | Conference Results | NCAA Tournament | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | Losses | Ties | Wins | Losses | Ties | ||||||||||||||
| Penn State Nittany Lions | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1952 | NCAA | Independent | Joe Bedenk | 15 | 4 | 0 | CWS, 3rd place | ||||||||||||
| 1955 | NCAA | Independent | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1956 | NCAA | Independent | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1957 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | District 2 Champions | ||||||||||
| 1958 | NCAA | Independent | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1959 | NCAA | Independent | 15 | 4 | 0 | District 2 Champions | |||||||||||||
| 1962 | NCAA | Independent | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1963 | NCAA | Independent | Chuck Medlar | 13 | 4 | 0 | District 2 Champions | ||||||||||||
| 1965 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1966 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1967 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 1 | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||
| 1968 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1969 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1970 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 8 | 0 | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||
| 1971 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 0 | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||
| 1972 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 1 | District 2 Finals | ||||||||||
| 1973 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 0 | District 2 Champions | ||||||||||
| 1974 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 1 | District 2 Semifinals | ||||||||||
| 1975 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 9 | 0 | Mideast Regional | ||||||||||
| 1976 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 0 | Northeast Regional | ||||||||||
| 1977 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1978 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 1979 | NCAA | Eastern 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 5 Seed, 2-1 | ||||||||||
| 1980 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1981 | NCAA | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1982 | NCAA | Independent | Shorty Stoner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 11 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1983 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 23 | 0 | 1 Seed West Division, 0-2, Lost to Temple in Title Game | ||||||||||
| 1984 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 17 | 0 | 2 Seed West Division, 1-2, Lost to Temple in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 1985 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 14 | 0 | 2 Seed West Division, 1-2, Lost to West Virginia in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 1986 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 3 Seed West Division (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1987 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 2 Seed West Division, 0-2, Lost to UMass in Lower Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 1988 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 26 | 0 | 3 Seed West Division (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1989 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 19 | 1 | 2 Seed West Division, 0-2, Lost to GWU in Lower Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 1990 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 23 | 0 | 4 Seed West Division (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1991 | NCAA | Atlantic 10 | Joe Hindelang | 14 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 1 Seed West Division, 1-2, Lost to Rutgers in Lower Final | |||||||||
| 1992 | NCAA | Big Ten | 11 | 17 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 8 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1993 | NCAA | Big Ten | 5 | 23 | 0 | 15 | 28 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1994 | NCAA | Big Ten | 12 | 15 | 0 | 25 | 24 | 0 | 6 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1995 | NCAA | Big Ten | 13 | 13 | 0 | 25 | 29 | 0 | 5 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1996 | NCAA | Big Ten | 19 | 8 | 0 | 32 | 24 | 0 | 1 Seed, 1-2, Eliminated by Illinois in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 1997 | NCAA | Big Ten | 12 | 14 | 0 | 29 | 24 | 0 | 6 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 1998 | NCAA | Big Ten | 15 | 11 | 0 | 28 | 24 | 0 | 4 Seed, 1-2, Eliminated by Illinois in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 1999 | NCAA | Big Ten | 12 | 15 | 0 | 32 | 23 | 0 | 6 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2000 | NCAA | Big Ten | 18 | 9 | 0 | 41 | 17 | 0 | 2 Seed, 3-2, Eliminated by Illinois in Final | Montclair Regional Champions | |||||||||
| 2001 | NCAA | Big Ten | 15 | 11 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 4 Seed, 1-2, Eliminated by Michigan in Third Round | ||||||||||
| 2002 | NCAA | Big Ten | 11 | 19 | 0 | 23 | 30 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2003 | NCAA | Big Ten | 17 | 15 | 0 | 29 | 28 | 0 | 4 Seed, 3-2, Eliminated by Ohio State in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 2004 | NCAA | Big Ten | 17 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 29 | 0 | 6 Seed, 0-2, Eliminated by Michigan State in Lower Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 2005 | NCAA | Big Ten | Robbie Wine | 13 | 19 | 0 | 28 | 27 | 0 | 8 Seed (Did not Qualify) | |||||||||
| 2006 | NCAA | Big Ten | 13 | 19 | 0 | 26 | 30 | 0 | 8 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2007 | NCAA | Big Ten | 20 | 10 | 0 | 31 | 26 | 0 | 3 Seed, 3-2, Eliminated by Minnesota in Lower Final | ||||||||||
| 2008 | NCAA | Big Ten | 17 | 15 | 0 | 27 | 31 | 0 | 3 Seed, 1-2, Eliminated by Indiana in Lower Round 3 | ||||||||||
| 2009 | NCAA | Big Ten | 8 | 16 | 0 | 25 | 26 | 0 | 8 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2010 | NCAA | Big Ten | 9 | 15 | 0 | 22 | 30 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2011 | NCAA | Big Ten | 12 | 12 | 0 | 32 | 22 | 0 | 6 Seed, 0-2, Eliminated by Minnesota in Lower Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 2012 | NCAA | Big Ten | 15 | 9 | 0 | 29 | 27 | 0 | 3 Seed, 0-2, Eliminated by Nebraska in Lower Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 2013 | NCAA | Big Ten | 4 | 20 | 0 | 14 | 36 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2014 | NCAA | Big Ten | Rob Cooper | 5 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 32 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | |||||||||
| 2015 | NCAA | Big Ten | 6 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 30 | 0 | 12 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2016 | NCAA | Big Ten | 12 | 12 | 0 | 28 | 27 | 0 | 10 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2017 | NCAA | Big Ten | 4 | 20 | 0 | 18 | 37 | 0 | 13 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2018 | NCAA | Big Ten | 3 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 34 | 0 | 13 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2019 | NCAA | Big Ten | 4 | 18 | 0 | 22 | 27 | 0 | 13 Seed (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2020 | NCAA | Big Ten | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | Was not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||
| 2021 | NCAA | Big Ten | 18 | 24 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 0 | Was not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||
| 2022 | NCAA | Big Ten | 26 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 6 Seed, 1-2, Eliminated by Rutgers in Second Round | ||||||||||
| 2023 | NCAA | Big Ten | 7 | 16 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 12 Seed, (Did not Qualify) | ||||||||||
| 2024 | NCAA | Big Ten | Mike Gambino | 12 | 12 | 0 | 29 | 24 | 0 | 7 Seed, 3-1, Lost to Nebraska in Big Ten Championship game | |||||||||
| 2025 | NCAA | Big Ten | 15 | 15 | 0 | 33 | 23 | 0 | 9 Seed, 2-1, Lost to Nebraska in Big Ten Tournament semifinals | ||||||||||
| 2026 | NCAA | Big Ten | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0 | TBD | ||||||||||
| Total | 490 | 572 | 0 | 1413 | 1213 | 6 | Final Standings, Tournament Record, Final Game | ||||||||||||
Shutouts
- 1957: Ed Drapcho, Penn St. vs. Florida St., 6-8-57 (7-0)
- 1959: Ron Riese, Penn St. vs. Clemson, 6-15-59 (7-0)
- 1963: Dick Noe, Penn St. vs. Western Mich., 6-11-63 (3-0)
Notable alumni
To date Penn State has had 89 players drafted and has been the alma mater to 24 MLB Players
Statistical Leaders
Batting
Source:[5]
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