April 3, 2015
| PENN STATE at OHIO STATE | |
| Saturday, Apr. 4 - 3:05 p.m. ET | |
| Sunday, Apr. 5 - 1:05 p.m. ET | |
| Monday, Apr. 6 - 1:05 p.m. ET | |
| Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium | Columbus, Ohio | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
TV: ESPN2 -->Game 1: | Live Audio | BTN PlusGame 2: | Live Audio | BTN PlusGame 3: | Live Audio | Buckeye VisionBaseball Blog | Baseball VideosFollow Us: @PennStateBASE | Facebook | InstagramGameday Central
Game Notes: Penn State | Ohio StateStatistics: Penn State | Ohio State
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-15, 1-1 B1G)
at OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (19-7, 4-2 B1G)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State returns to the road and Big Ten conference play at Ohio State this weekend, opening a three-game series in Bill Davis Stadium Saturday at 3:05 p.m. The series was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, but was postponed one day to Saturday, Sunday and Monday due to forecasted inclement weather Friday.
COVERAGE
TV
None
Radio
WQWK-AM/ESPN Radio 1450
Location: State College, Pa.
Dates: All
Talent: Brian Tripp
Internet
Video: BTN Plus (Sat./Sun.)/Buckeye Vision (Mon.)
Audio: GoPSUsports.com
Twitter: @PennStateBASE
Facebook: PennState Baseball
Instagram: @PennStateBASE
On the Mound:
SAT., April 4 - 3:05 p.m.
(OSU) LHP Tanner Tully (2-1, 2.75) vs. (PSU) LHP Nick Hedge (0-3, 4.83)
SUN., April 5 - 1:05 p.m.
(OSU) RHP Travis Lakins (1-2, 3.73) vs. (PSU) LHP Taylor Lehman (1-2, 7.40)
MON., April 6 - 1:05 p.m.
(OSU) LHP Ryan Riga (5-1, 0.76) vs. (PSU) RHP Nick Distasio (1-3, 2.74)
Turning it Around: Despite a slow start to the season, Penn State is 7-2 in its last nine games, batting .281 as a team with a 2.38 ERA. Ryky Smith has been the hottest hitter during the stetch, batting .353 with three doubles and 11 RBIs. Aaron Novak has continued his strong season, batting .342 with eight RBIs in the last nine, while Greg Guers has provided the power, homering twice, tripling once, doubling three times and driving in 15 runs while batting .295. Reliever Jack Anderson picked up three wins and freshman Sal Biasi picked up three saves. Biasi has also struck out 14 in his last 8 1/3 innings pitched.
On Deck: The schedule change will result in the Nittany Lions playing five games in five days, as they will open a five-game homestand with a pair of games against in-state Patriot League foes Tuesday (Bucknell) and Wednesday (Lafayette). The Lions will then host Michigan for a three-game series beginning Friday. The series opener will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network starting at 5 p.m. The game was originially scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Last Time Out: Greg Guers homered twice and drove in five of the Lions' seven runs, but Kent State scored four runs in the first two innings and took advantage PSU miscues to win, 9-7. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak.
All-Time Series vs. Ohio State: This is the third consecutive season that Penn State has headed west to Columbus. The Nittany Lions have faced the Buckeyes more than any other opponent, as the two sides have squared off 95 times in series history. Ohio State leads the all-time series with a record of 60-35. The Buckeyes have won six of the last seven games, including a sweep in 2013. Prior to the 2013 campaign, Penn State won the last three regular season series, taking two out of three games in 2012, 2011 and 2010. However, the Lions have not found much success when playing in Columbus, recording a 14-34 record while playing at Ohio State.
Ohio State at a Glance: Since losing four-straight early in the season to slip to 4-4, the Buckeyes have won 15 of their last 18 games for an overall record of 19-7. They are 4-2 in the Big Ten after taking two of three in their first two league series against Michigan State and Rutgers. Monday starter Ryan Riga ranks second in the Big Ten and fifth in the nation with an 0.76 ERA, while Ronnie Dawson and Patrick Porter rank third and sixth, respectively, in the Big Ten in home runs with five and four. Dawson is also second in the league with 11 stolen bases.
Super Novak: Aaron Novak has been Penn State's hottest hitter, ranking second in the conference in batting (.383). At Charleston Southern (3/8), Novak became the fourth Nittany Lion to tally eight RBIs in a game (first since 1984), as he tallied two home runs and doubled as part of a 4-for-5 day at the plate. The totals were career highs, and his eight RBIs matched a team record. It was also his first game of the season in the cleanup role. He also went 4-for-4 in the series opener with CCSU (3/27).
In Guer: Greg Guers was only batting .218 with one RBI through the first 14 games of the season, but he has heated up over the last nine with five multi-hit games, 15 RBIs and a .295 average.
Powering Up: Penn State managed just one home run in the spacious Medlar Field last season, and it was hit by Greg Guers against Michigan State. Guers surpassed that figure with two home runs against Kent Staet (4/1). The Lions have five home runs as a team, matching 2013's total. Ryan Richter hit the team's first home run at Elon, while Aaron Novak has a team-best three home runs, hitting one at Texas A&M and two in a game at Charleston Southern.
Home Sweet Home: After starting the season 2-13 on the road (one loss at a neutral site), the Nittany Lions are 6-2 at Medlar, and 7-2 in Pennsylvania.
Slow Starts, Strong Finishes: Penn State, which has been unable to score a run in the second inning all season, has been outscored 42-7 in the first two innings, and 73-33 through the first four innings. The tables turn in the fifth inning and beyond though, as PSU holds a 101-66 advantage over its opponents, as well as a 48-24 advantage in the eighth inning and beyond. PSU has scored 28 runs in the eighth this season.
Blue and White Submarine: RHP Jack Anderson has settled in as one of the top pitchers on the Lions' staff. He's fourth on the team and tops amongst relievers with 21.1 innings pitched and a 2.53 ERA for the season. Throwing with a true "submarine" throwing motion, Anderson allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks in his first four outings, totaling just 5.0 innings pitched. In his last five appearances however, Anderson is boasting a 0.79 ERA, yielding just two runs (one earned) on nine hits and six walks while striking out nine in 11 1/3 innings of work with three wins.
Rookies on the Mound: Penn State has used nine first-year pitchers so far this season, and they have combined to account for 47.6 percent of innings pitched (96 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.
Reliable Rookie: Biasi is off to a strong start in his young career, and earned the save in three consecutive games last week. He has the top ERA on the team so far amongst relievers with at least 10 innings pitched at 1.96 in 18 1/3 innings. He also has 20 strikeouts, good for a tie for second on the team with starter LHP Taylor Lehman.
Turn It!: Led by the stellar middle infield duo of SS Jim Haley and 2B Taylor Skerpon, the Nittany Lions rank third in the nation and tops in the Big Ten with 1.22 double plays per game, turning a total of 28. They turned four in a 12-inning win at Pittsburgh (3/17).