STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — Bryce Molinaro launched a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, capping a late rally that lifted the Penn State Nittany Lions to an 8-6 victory over the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Nittany Lions, who trailed 6-0 after the top of the fourth inning, scored six unanswered runs to secure the comeback win. The victory improved Penn State to 7-15 on the season, while Saint Bonaventure fell to 5-17.

The game’s pivotal sequence began in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 6-5, Penn State’s J.T. Anderson drove in Adam Mercado with a single to center to tie the game. After two quick outs, Molinaro stepped to the plate against reliever Jack Holm. The Penn State third baseman, who had already driven in a run with a first-inning single, connected on a two-run shot to center field, putting the Nittany Lions ahead for the first time at 7-6. Penn State added an insurance run in the eighth on another RBI single from Mercado.

Molinaro finished the night a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. His performance spearheaded a 14-hit attack for Penn State. Catcher Avery Smith also homered for the Nittany Lions, a two-run blast in the fourth inning that started the comeback from the early six-run deficit.

The Bonnies had seized control with a five-run outburst in the top of the fourth. After Anthony Fernandez doubled, catcher Antonio Cordeiro hit a two-run homer to left field. The inning continued with three consecutive doubles from Adam LaMothe, Paul Hebenstreit and Joey Calabretti, followed by an RBI single from David Constantine, stretching the lead to 6-0.

Saint Bonaventure’s early offense was supported by a strong start from pitcher Tristan Ciampa, who threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. However, the Bonnies’ bullpen could not hold the large lead. Penn State chipped away with two runs in the fourth on Smith’s homer and one in the seventh before Molinaro’s decisive blow.

The Nittany Lions’ bullpen was instrumental in the win, shutting down the Bonnies over the final 5 2/3 innings. After starter Derek Sanchez was chased in the fourth, relievers Mason Horwat and Robert Brown combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Horwat struck out four in 2 1/3 innings, and Brown earned the win with 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

Saint Bonaventure managed eight hits, with Fernandez going 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Bonnies’ relievers Eamon Giblin and Joey Calabretti provided scoreless outings, but the damage had been done in the middle innings.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a low-scoring 3-1 Penn State victory. The Nittany Lions’ ELO win probability was set at 81.5%.

Penn State looks to build momentum when it hosts Bucknell on Wednesday. Saint Bonaventure opens a three-game Atlantic 10 series at VCU on Friday.