April 7, 2015
By Matt Allibone, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio. - Even during a tough stretch, the Penn State baseball team refuses to go down quietly.
Taking on Ohio State in the third game of a three-game series Monday, the Nittany Lions found themselves down 5-1 in the second inning. Having already dropped the first two contests 7-1 and 7-6, it would have been easy for the Blue and White to just accept it wasn't their series.
But that's not the makeup of head coach Rob Cooper's baseball team. For the second straight game, the Lions' offense brought them back, scoring six runs in a four-inning span that put them ahead 7-6 going into the ninth.
It would not be enough, as a walk-off double from Ohio State's Troy Kuhn gave the Lions a heartbreaking 8-7 loss. Despite the disappointing results of the weekend, the Lions continued to swing the bats well, scoring 13 runs and registering 24 hits combined in the last two games.
"I'm proud of them for fighting back and still competing when they had to play four games this week," Cooper said. "We battled our way back but it's too much to put yourself in that position like that."
Although the Lions still have plenty to work on, it appears they have their own version of the bash brothers in outfielders junior Greg Guers and senior Aaron Novak. Dating back to last Wednesday's game against Kent State, the pair has combined for four home runs and 11 RBIs.
Much of that production has come from Guers, who has been tearing the cover off the ball lately. Following his two-homer, five RBI performance against Kent State, the 6-foot-3 slugger hit .385 with five RBIs against the Buckeyes, including a three-run blast on Monday that cut the Buckeyes lead from 5-1 to 5-4.
Then there's Novak, who was moved from the three-hole into the leadoff spot Sunday and responded by ripping his fourth home run of the season. Hitting a remarkable .376, Novak has combined with Guers and cleanup hitter Jim Haley to give the Lions a formidable top half of the order.
"It's good when those guys are locked in like they are," Cooper said. "Guers has taken the approach to stay engaged and it's showing out there. It's not just one or a few guys, we're trying to have an offense that's strong throughout."
Senior Ryky Smith is helping make that a reality. On Monday, Penn State's third baseman and No. 8-hitter went 4-5 with two RBIs, driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with a double off the left field wall.
The career day continued what has been a standout season for a senior. While he was a utility player the past two seasons, Smith is hitting .328 in 2015 and is fourth on the team with 15 RBIs.
"He's been huge but the big thing with Ryky has been the mental approach," Cooper said. "He's just going out and playing baseball with confidence and not worrying about anything. It's awesome to have a guy at the end of the lineup that can produce like that."
While going down to the wire against a 21-7 Ohio State club is commendable, the Nittany Lions remain determined to win. Moving forward, Cooper said Penn State's goal is to jump on teams from the start instead of always rallying from behind.
As tough as losing walk-offs is, the Lions have no time to remain discouraged. They return home Tuesday night against Bucknell and will look to get back to the formula that has helped them go 6-2 at Medlar Field so far.
"I told them, `starting games like that is difference between going 3-1 and 0-4,'" Cooper said. "You've got to bring the mindset that we're going to win and want to get that losing taste out of your mouth. If that's not motivation enough then that's a problem."