March 17, 2011
WICHITA, Kan. - The Penn State baseball team heads west to Kansas this weekend for an exciting three-game series with No. 26 Wichita State beginning on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Eck Stadium.
Having rolled off 10 wins already in the first month of the 2011 campaign, Penn State will have a perfect opportunity to make another early-season statement against one of the finest programs in the nation. The series will mark the first time the Lions have battled a ranked team during non-conference action since facing No. 24 Pittsburgh on April 13, 2010.
Everyone who is unable to attend the series can still follow along with GameTracker on GoPSUSports.com. Audio streaming will also be available through Wichita State's website at GoShockers.com.
Setting up to be an entertaining series, both teams enter the weekend riding a wave of momentum. Penn State is coming off an outstanding 7-2 roll during the program's annual spring break trip. During their tour of North Carolina and Virginia, the Lions took two games from perennial powers NC State and Old Dominion before grabbing three from Norfolk State.
Not to be outdone, Wichita State has been on a roll as well, highlighted by two straight victories over No. 11 Arizona during a midweek series after taking a game from No. 24 Tulane over the weekend.
Effective out of the lead-off position, Sean Deegan has been at the forefront of the potent Penn State offense. Through the first 15 games of the season, he ranks second in the Big Ten with a .726 slugging percentage, while his .419 batting average, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three home runs all rank among the top-10 in the conference as well.
Emerging sluggers Joey DeBernardis, Ryan Clark, Mario Eramo, and Jordan Steranka have also added some pop to the middle of the lineup. DeBernardis currently leads the Big Ten with 11 doubles this season, while Clark, Eramo, and Steranka have all blasted a pair of home runs, which currently ties them for third in the league.
Guided by their efforts, Penn State leads the Big Ten with nine home runs, ranks second with 37 doubles, and stands third with a .440 slugging percentage. As a whole, the team is also hitting at a .290 clip, which stands fourth in the conference.
Along with the offensive performance, PSU has also received outstanding production from its pitching staff. As a team, the Lions rank third in the Big Ten with a tremendous 2.80 ERA while also holding the opposition to a .256 batting average.
Steven Hill, Heath Johnson, and Dave Walkling have been vital to the team's success on the mound. Johnson currently leads the Big Ten with a stellar 1.00 ERA, while Walkling, who is the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, stands second with a 1.10 mark. Walkling and Hill also rank second and third in strikeouts, while Hill leads the way with 25.2 innings pitched.
Similarly as stingy on the mound, Wichita State comes into this weekend's action with a 2.31 ERA to go along with 129 strikeouts and a .207 batting-average-against. Tim Kelley and Josh Smith have been the stars of the rotation, combining to go 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 44 strikeouts.
The Shockers have also benefited from a strong bullpen that has supported the starting staff. Zach Beringer, Grant Muncrief, Cale Elam, and TJ McGreevy have all made at least four appearances and sport sub-2.00 ERAs. Brian Flynn has also been the stopper at the end of the game, earning two saves and a pair of wins in his seven appearances.
At the plate, Wichita State has a well-balanced lineup with five starters hitting above .280. Chris O'Brien leads the way with a .375 average, while Kevin Hall, Preston Springer, and Tyler Grimes all sit at .333. Grimes has also scored a team-high 24 runs, while Johnny Coy leads the way with 19 RBI.
The Shockers and Lions are relatively unknown opponents having played only three games since the programs were founded. In their only previous match-up, Wichita State swept a series from Penn State on March 9-11, 2007.
Ending their early-season travels next Wednesday with a trip to Pittsburgh at 3 p.m., the Nittany Lions will kick off the home portion of their schedule next weekend when the squad hosts Le Moyne in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 3:30 p.m.