Feb. 27, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas - Following a 6-1 comeback victory over Seton Hall, the Penn State baseball team travels to Austin, Texas to face No. 4 Texas at Disch-Falk Field this weekend in a four-game set.
Penn State obtained a 2-1 record for the first time since 2004. Playing in the inaugural Big Ten/Big East Challenge in St. Petersburg, Fla., the Nittany Lions overcame an opening 15-6 loss to St. John's with back-to-back victories over Northwestern, 9-1, and Seton Hall, 6-1.
Texas (5-0) is coming off a thrilling come-behind-victory of its own in which it scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to upend Texas-Arlington, 5-4. Last weekend, the Longhorns swept Illinois-Chicago in a series that saw the Texas pitching staff allow a total of three runs and no more than one run in any game.
Fans can track each game of the Nittany Lions-Longhorns series on GameTracker at GoPSUsports.com.
Series History vs. Texas
The Longhorns have a 4-2 edge on the series that dates back to 1952. Penn State has drawn Texas in several of its best season in program history. Texas is the last team Penn State faced in the NCAA Super Regionals. The Longhorns sent the Nittany Lions packing in 2000 in Austin. Penn State dropped both games by scores of 7-3 and 10-0. The first time the two schools played 57 years ago was in the first of Penn State's five College World Series appearances. The Nittany Lions defeated Texas, 5-3, in Omaha, Neb. Penn State would eventually tie for third place when it was eliminated by Holy Cross, 15-4. Five years later, the two schools would play each other again in Omaha with the Nittany Lions topping the Longhorns, 4-1. Texas has won the past four meetings.
Scouting the Longhorns
Texas, one of the most dominant programs in college baseball history, has failed to make the College World Series in the past three years. It won the national title in its last appearance in 2005. The Longhorns return seven starters from a 2008 team that went 39-22. Brandon Belt led the team last year with 65 RBIs. Chance Ruffin owned the lowest earned-run average in the Big 12. Ruffin, Friday's starter, garnered an 8-2 record in 2008 with a 1.96 ERA. Starters Brandon Workman and Cole Green struggled in their first season and had ERAs in the mid 5's.
Against Illinois-Chicago, the Texas pitching staff had a 0.76 ERA over four games. The Flames struggled at the plate and batted well below the Mendoza line at .106 for the series. Ruffin, who allowed four hits in seven innings to the Flames in the season opener, pitched in relief against Texas-Arlington and blew a save opportunity, allowing the Mavericks to tie at three apiece and send the game into extra innings.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Mike Deese earned first-team All-Big East/Big Ten Challenge status as the senior utility man batted .583 in three games. Deese scored four runs and had seven hits to go along with his three RBIs. The senior from Roswell, Ga. has an on-base percentage of .667.
T.J. Macy also made the first all-challenge team when he pitched seven innings of two-hit baseball, allowing one earned run and two walks in a no-decision. Scott Kelley also holds an ERA under two when he tossed 5 2/3 innings against Northwestern and allowed one earned run.
David Lutz earned a win in the come-back victory over the Pirates. Lutz tossed two innings of hitless ball to go along with two innings of scoreless relief he pitched against the Wildcats.
Jordan Steranka and Grant Youngblood also had above-par performances during the Nittany Lions' first weekend of competition. Both players own batting averages of .500. Steranka has two key doubles, including one in the six-run ninth inning, and Youngblood has reached based 58.3 percent of its at-bats. Cory Wine leads the team with four RBIs in two games.
Nittany Firsts
Sean Deegan, Jordan Steranka, Blake Lynd and Michael Glantz each had their first career hits as a Penn Stater last weekend. Three of the four also recorded their first RBIs for the blue and white.
Drew Palen and Jesse Alfreno shut out opponents in their first relief appearances in Penn State's opener against St. John's. Ryan Ignas also threw his first pitches for the Nittany Lions in a loss to the Red Storm.
Big East/Big Ten Laurels
Penn State had two players make the all-tournament team at the Big East/Big Ten Challenge. Mike Deese and T.J. Macy represented the Nittany Lions on the listing. Penn State won two of three during the challenge.
Big Win for the Big Ten
The Big Ten reigned supreme in the first-ever Big East/Big Ten Challenge in the Tampa Bay region. The Big Ten had a five-game edge against their northern brethrens. No. 27 Michigan and No. 30 Ohio State both won all four games they played last week Four Big East teams - Pittsburgh, Villanova, Louisville and Rutgers - could not make it to Florida, due to prior arrangements.
Deese's Pieces
Mike Deese made an extemporary performance in its first appearance since injuring his wrist last season. Deese was sidelined for the 2008 season after the sixth game. Deese batted .583 in his first three games back to the diamond and scattered seven hits along the way.
World Baseball Classic Connections
Freshman Brett DiFelice's cousin, Mark, will be playing in the World Baseball Classic, which takes place this March. Mark DiFelice, who plays for the Milwaukee Brewers, was named to the Italian team's roster. The opening round of the WBC takes place in Tokyo, Toronto, San Juan and Mexico City. The championship game is held this year at Dodger Stadium.