March 21, 2015
| PENN STATE vs. INDIANA | |
| 21 | |
| Sunday, Mar. 22 - 11 a.m. ET (DH) | |
| Medlar Field at Lubrano Park | University Park, Pa. | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
TV: ESPN2 -->Game 1: | Live AudioGame 2: | Live AudioBaseball Blog | Baseball VideosFollow Us: @PennStateBASE | Facebook | InstagramGameday Central
Game Notes: Penn State | IndianaStatistics: Penn State | Indiana
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (3-13, 0-0 B1G)
vs. No. 21 INDIANA HOOSIERS (14-4, 0-0 B1G)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After winter weather forced the cancelation of one game and the postponement of another, Penn State and No. 21 Indiana are scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park starting at 11 a.m. As player and spectator safety remains the highest priority, Penn State staff will monitor the possible rain tonight and the real feel temperature Sunday.
Game 2 of the doubleheader will start 35-45 minutes after the first game concludes.
The three-game, Big Ten opening series was scheduled to begin Friday evening, but the snows that blanketed central Pennsylvania forced the cancelation of Friday's game the postponement of Saturday's.
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COVERAGE
TV
None
Radio
WQWK-AM/ESPN Radio 1450
Location: State College, Pa.
Dates: All
Talent: Tyler Ferguson, Andy Madore, Brian Tripp
Internet
Video: N/A
Audio: GoPSUsports.com
Twitter: @PennStateBASE
Facebook: PennState Baseball
Instagram: @PennStateBASE
On the Mound:
Game 1
RHP Christian Morris (2-0, 4.72) vs. LHP Nick Hedge (0-3, 6.64)
Game 2
LHP Caleb Baragar (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Taylor Lehman (0-2, 9.64)
All-Time Series vs. Indiana: Penn State holds a three-game advantage over the Hoosiers in the all-time series matchup, compiling a record of 39-36 against Indiana. Despite the overall success, Indiana has been successful as of late, winning 11 of the last 13 games, including the last seven in a row. The Nittany Lions' record improves to 22-16 when playing in Happy Valley.
Indiana at a Glance: Indiana has won 11 straight games and is 14-4 overall with three wins over 2014 NCAA Super Regional teams. Indiana is coming off a perfect six-game homestand, including a sweep of then-No. 12 Cal State Fullerton. In the Big Ten, IU ranks first with 31 walks allowed and nine triples, third in home runs (11), batting average (.288), team ERA (2.36), strikeouts (151), runs scored (108) and RBI (102) and fourth in hits (179) and total bases (254). The Hoosiers vaulted back into the national polls this week and are ranked as high as No. 21 by D1Baseball.com, the highest IU has been ranked this season. They are two-time defending Big Ten regular season and tournament champions.
On Deck: Penn State continues its 10-game homestand with a mid-week game against in-state foe Villanova.
Last Time Out: Geoff Boylston struck out a career-high eight batters and Ryky Smith drove in a career-best four runs in an 11-1 victory over Canisius in the home opener Wednesday evening. The lone run Boylston allowed came on back-to-back, two-out doubles in the first inning. Working six innings for Penn State, Boylston yielded just five hits and no walks. Smith also matched his career high of three hits. The Canisius starter was only able to get one out, as the Nittany Lions drove in four first-inning runs, capped by a two-RBI single by Smith. Pitching with a lead, Boylston retired 14 of the next 17 Golden Griffins, surrendering only three singles.
Coincidence or Not?: The Lions have won all three games Ryky Smith has started at third base.
Home Sweet Home: Penn State returns to Medlar Field after opening its 2015 season with 15 consecutive games on the road. The Nittany Lions tallied just two wins, but were playing one of the tougher schedules in the country. Eight of the 13 losses were by three runs or less, including six out of the last seven. Texas A&M was barely a Top-25 team when the Lions played them in late February, but the Aggies remain undefeated and have vaulted into the top five of most rankings. PSU enjoyed its best home start in 35 years last season, winning its first eight games at Medlar.
Rookies on the Mound: Penn State has used nine first-year pitchers so far this season, and they have combined to account for 48.9 percent of innings pitched (66 1/3 IP). The Lion rotation includes two true freshmen: LHP Taylor Lehman and RHP Nick Distasio. Both are from head coach Rob Cooper's first recruiting class. Lehman was drafted in the 34th round of the MLB draft in June by the Florida Marlins, but did not sign. He stands at a towering 6-8. Distasio and Lehman are both Pennsylvania natives. Freshmen Sal Biasi and Marko Boricich are two of Cooper's most reliable arms in the bullpen.
Bonus Baseball: The Lions went to the 12 inning at Pitt (3/17) to snap a five-game losing streak. After eight consecutive scoreless innings in a 1-1 game, Penn State exploded for five runs in the 12th to defeat Pittsburgh, 6-1. Greg Guers drove in the deciding runs in the game, tying it in the third with an RBI-double, and then singling with runners on the corners in the 12th. The Nittany Lion pitchers did not yield an unearned run, as starter Jordan Donmoyer enjoyed a career-best outing, yielding just the unearned run on a hit and two walks in five innings of work. RHP Jack Anderson earned the win with 4 2/3 innings of relief, yielding just three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. It was the longest game PSU had played since a 12-inning win over Bucknell in 2013, and the longest game ever played in 127 meetings with Pittsburgh. The only previous extra-inning game in the intrastate rivalry was in 1921, a 5-2 Penn State victory.
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