April 9, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State baseball team hosts Purdue (13-14 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) this weekend in a three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions (18-12 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) come into their second conference home series after taking two of three against defending Big Ten champion Michigan and pulling a come-from-behind, walk-off win over Bucknell on Wednesday.
First pitch for Friday's game is set for 6:35 p.m. Saturday's contest begins at 2:05 p.m. and the Easter Sunday game will take place at 1:05 p.m. Dollar hot dogs will be available on Friday, and students can pick up a three-for-five package at the HUB-Robeson Center between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday or at the State College Spikes ticket office prior to any of the weekend's games.
Fans can follow the game via GameTracker at GoPSUsports.com. Loren Crispell, the voice of Penn State baseball, will be broadcasting the game on the official Penn State athletics Web site or on ESPN Radio 1450 AM in the State College area. Game updates will also be made available on twitter.com/psubaseball.
Game Starters: Friday, April 9, 2009. 6:35 p.m. T.J. Macy (2-2, 2.82 ERA, 44.2 IP, 51 Ks) vs. Matt Bischoff (2-2, 6.00 ERA, 42 IP, 43 Ks)
Saturday, April 10, 2009. 2:05 p.m. Calvin Grumley (2-1, 6.69 ERA, 35 IP, 25 Ks) vs. Matt Jansen (3-3, 6.05 ERA, 38.2 IP, 42 Ks)
Sunday, April 11, 2009. 1:05 p.m. Mike Lorentson (1-3, 6.82 ERA, 33 IP, 30 Ks) vs. Matt Morgan (2-2, 4.09 ERA, 33 IP, 31 Ks)
Series History with Purdue
Purdue leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1983, between the two teams. The Boilermakers hold a 29-24 edge on the Nittany Lions. Purdue had the best of the Nittany Lions last season, defeating head coach Robbie Wine's squad four times throughout the year. It was responsible for the first of Penn State's two losses in the Big Ten Tournament last year in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Black and Gold poured on a barrage of scoring to defeat the Nittany Nine, 15-6.
Scouting the Boilermakers
Despite the fact that the Boilermakers have displayed an onslaught of power at the plate this month, hitting to a .386 average, Purdue enters its affair with Penn State after losing a string of nonconference games and winning its first Big Ten series of the season. The Boilermakers lost midweek games to Ball State, 17-8, and Illinois State, 12-11. The previous week, Purdue lost a heartbreaking 22-19 game to Indiana-Purdue Fort Worth. Purdue did, however, take two of three against Iowa last weekend.
For the season, Purdue has shown the ability to hit the ball well but has failed to get runners out. The Boilermakers' staff holds a 6.70 ERA, and opponents are hitting an astronomical .317 figure against them. Purdue has also struggled to bring runners home, leaving an average of 9.6 runners on base per game. On the other hand, Purdue has batting .310 as a team. Two players, Eric Charles and Brandon Haveman, are batting at .439 and .406, respectively, while five representatives in the Purdue lineup have clips hovering around the .333 range.