March 5, 2016
By Jack Dougherty, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" With so much uncertainty about who would step up offensively in the absence of last year's leading hitter Aaron Novak, an unexpected name has risen to the challenge early on.
Nick Riotto, who started just 26 games in 2015, has started his 2016 campaign on a positive note. The junior has started all seven of Penn State's contest so far this season and is second on the team with a .316 batting average.
Riotto has shown steady improvement since his freshman year, and he has never been more confident at the plate than he seems this year.
In his first season at PSU, Riotto struggled with his bat. In 25 appearances Riotto notched a .164 batting average and a .239 on-base percentage in 61 at-bats.
The following year, Riotto bettered his numbers to a .265 average and a .361 OBP. He was called upon for 26 starts and showed flashes of his potential in various stretches during the season, including a six-game hit streak.
So far this season, Riotto has cruised past those numbers and has been the most reliable player in the lineup in regards to getting on base. He leads the team with a .536 OBP in 2016.
"He's a pretty interesting combination of a guy that's aggressive at the plate but also willing to take a pitch that he can't handle," said head coach Rob Cooper. "That's something that his freshman year I don't know we could've said about him."
Riotto's ability to get on base largely depends on his capability to draw walks. He has worked seven walks in as many games to lead the team, including a three-walk game against Army on opening weekend. Riotto has also been hit by two pitches this season.
As important as putting the ball in play to drive in runs and make the defense work is, the art of the walk often gets overlooked. Runs can't be scored unless guys are getting on base, and any strategy to get that accomplished should be utilized.
"I think on-base percentage is everything really," Cooper said. "Any time you take a walk that's a minimum of four pitches that the other pitcher has to throw, so a walk is always a good thing. As a hitting team you have to be able to look at a walk as a weapon. Your number one goal is to get on base."
Along with his ability to get on base via the walk, Riotto has performed much better with the stick than in recent years. He's emerged as an enlightening bright spot at the top of the Nittany Lions' lineup.
"He's put a lot of work into really understanding what kind of hitter he can be," Cooper said. "He's really worked hard to figure out his strengths and weaknesses as a hitter. He understands situations, so he has a plan, he sticks to that plan, and he trusts his plan. The other thing is he's not changing his swing from day to day or week to week."
In a lineup that has only featured five players who have started in every game so far this season, the Lions are still searching for more consistency. Riotto, however, is providing a refreshingly unswerving effort at the plate in 2016 that most didn't expect.
His OBP is .149 higher than the next highest mark on the team and he sits third on the squad in hits with six. If Riotto continues to find ways to get on base, the offense will surely start to pile up runs sooner than later.