May 10, 2016
| PENN STATE at PITTSBURGH | |
| Wednesday, May. 11 - 6:00 p.m. ET | |
Charles L. Cost Field | Pittsburgh, Pa.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Playing its fourth-straight non-conference game, Penn State will travel to Pittsburgh to complete a home-and-home series Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. in Charles L. Cost Field.
Essentials
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Audio: GoPSUsports.com
Live Stats: GoPSUsports.com
TV: N/A
Radio: ESPN Radio 1450 AM (Brian Tripp)
Series History: 85-42-1 (1912)
Last Game: W, 7-0 (4/5/16)
Streak: W3
Friday Probables
PSU RHP Eli Nabholz (2-0, 5.67 ERA)
PITT RHP Sam Mersing (5-2, 5.79 ERA)
In-State Winning Streak
Penn State has won its last 11 games against Pennsylvania opponents dating back to 2014. Penn State is 4-0 so far this season with wins over Pitt (4/5), Lafayette (4/6) and Bucknell (4/13,19). The Lions went 5-0 against in-state foes Pitt, Villanova and Bucknell last season, with weather forcing the cancellation of a contest against Lafayette.
Diamond Lions Improving
At 25-23, Penn State owns its best record through 48 games since 2011. Penn State's 25 wins are its most since winning 29 in 2012.
B1G Battle Looming
The game will be Penn State's final tune-up before traveling to Nebraska for a crucial Big Ten series. The race for the Big Ten title and tournament berths is extremely close. With six games remaining, Penn State (10-8) is three games out of first place, but is locked in a three-way tie for sixth place. Additionally, ninth-place Illinois (9-9) is just one game back. Only the top eight teams earn a trip to Omaha for the tournament (May 25-29). Nebraska is 11-7, one game ahead of Penn State, in a tie for fourth place with Michigan State.
Anderson Successful All Around
Recent graduate Jack Anderson has not only been successful on the mound at Penn State, but in the classroom, as the relief pitcher was elected to the Academic All-District First Team for District 2 (D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia), as selected by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA.) A supply chain and information systems major, he received his degree Sunday morning before Penn State's game against No. 10 TCU. In yet another milestone for the 2016 Nittany Lions baseball team, Anderson is the first to receive Academic All-District honors since David Lutz in 2010 and the 12th in program history. As a first team selection, Anderson will be considered for Academic All-America honors later this month.
On the mound, Anderson has been one of the most successful closers in the nation. He owns Penn State's record for career appearances with 94, which also ranks 10th amongst active Division I pitchers and 13th amongst all divisions of NCAA baseball. His 23 saves rank 13th amongst active Division I pitchers and are also a Penn State record. With 11 saves this season, Anderson has tied the Lions' single-season record and he leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth in the nation. In a Big Ten-leading 25 appearances, Anderson has a 4-2 record and 1.35 ERA. He was named to the NCBWA Preseason and Midseason Stopper of the Year watch lists and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year watch list.
All-Time vs. Pittsburgh
Penn State is 86-42-1 all-time against Pittsburgh, claiming the last three meetings. LHP Nick Hedge led a combined shutout earlier this season as the Nittany Lions earned a 7-0 victory. Last season featured two dramatic victories over the Panthers last season. The teams battled 12 innings at Pitt on March 17, 2015 before Penn State scored five runs in the top of the 12. Later in the season at home, Penn State used a walk-off hit-and-run to win 8-7. The Lions have claimed 10 of the last 13 meetings. Penn State and Pittsburgh met for the first time in 1912. Penn State did not drop a game to Pittsburgh in any of their 13 meetings between the 1941-1948 seasons for the series' longest streak.
Scouting Pitt
Pitt brings a 24-19 overall record into the week and a 10-13 ACC mark. The Panthers boast wins over nationally-ranked North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson, and Georgia Tech and most recently took two of three from Notre Dame. Pitt is one of 12 ACC schools in the top 50 in RPI, the most amongst any conference in the NCAA.
Connections
Penn State sophomore Jake Pilewicz played with Pittsburgh freshman Tyler Garbee at Quaker Valley H.S. (Sewickley, Pa.)
Penn State junior Tom Mullin and Pittsburgh sophomore Jawan McAllister played together at St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Pittsburgh-Area Nittany Lions
Taylor Lehman - Pittsburgh/Keystone Oaks
Nick Riotto - Washington/Trinity
Jake Pilewicz - Sewickley/Quaker Valley
Dakota Forsyth - Bethel Park/Bethel Park
Familiar Foes
Penn State is playing many of its most frequent opponents this season, including its top three regional non-conference match-ups.
Pitt is Penn State's second most frequent opponent with 129 meetings to date.
Uncommon Opponent
Penn State is coming off a rare late-season non-conference series.
No. 10 TCU became the first team from Texas and the first from the Big 12 other than West Virginia to play on the diamond at Penn State (5/7-8).
The last time Penn State hosted a College World Series participant from the previous season was Indiana in 2014, and the last non-conference opponent to visit after going to Omaha was Kent State in 2013.
TCU was the highest ranked non-conference opponent to ever play at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and the highest ranked since No. 8 Illinois played at Medlar in April last season.
Improving on the Mound
Much of Penn State's improved success this season can be credited to its pitching staff, which has improved in nearly every major statistical category.
Penn State enters the weekend with a 3.60 team ERA, which ranks 49th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten.
Jack Anderson leads the Big Ten and ranks sevnth nationally with 11 saves and ranks second in the Big Ten and 46th nationally with 25 appearances.
Freshman Justin Hagenman is the first Penn State pitcher to reach six wins since 2011. The last Penn State pitcher to reach seven wins was Mike Watson, who had eight in 2000.
Penn State's three shutouts are its most since earning four in 2011.
Shortening the Game
Jack Anderson is not the only Penn State reliever having a successful season.
Led by Anderson, the Penn State bullpen has a 2.78 ERA in 181 innings pitched with a 9-6 record and 13 saves.
Second to Anderson in innings pitched is Dakota Forsyth, who has thrown 391/3 innings over 17 appearances with a 1.60 ERA and 1-3 record. He pitched two scoreless innings against Maryland (4/30) to help lead Penn State to a 2-0 shutout victory.
Nick Hedge has been valuable as a midweek starter and out of the `pen. In five relief appearances, he has struck out 10 in 14 innings without surrendering a run or walk. He also has one save.
Nick Distasio is third in the bullpen with 29 innings pitched over 14 appearances.
After struggling in his season debut at then-No. 15 South Carolina, Tom Mullin has posted a 1.35 ERA in 13 1/3 innings over his last five appearances since. His most successful outing was his most recent, as he pitched the final 5 1/3 innings against No. 10 TCU in the series opener. He faced just one over the minimum in a career-long outing, yielding just two hits and a walk
Keep Watching
Closer Jack Anderson has been named to three prestigious watch lists this season.
Anderson was one of 40 student-athletes named to the Midseason Watch List for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award.
The award will be given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Anderson is the Big Ten's lone representative on the list.
The NCBWA will announce five finalists for the 2016 Stopper of the Year -- the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts -- on Wednesday, June 8, prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional competition. The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced during the 2016 College World Series.
Anderson was one of 70 pitchers named to the initial watch list for the award in the preseason.
Anderson was one of 72 pitchers named to the watch list for the National Pitcher of the Year Award, presented by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. The award, sponsored by Diamond, will be presented on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the annual Night of Champions event. Anderson is one of six pitchers from the Big Ten on the list.
Anderson posted a team-best 2.98 ERA in 2015 to rank ninth amongst all pitchers in the Big Ten. He also led the Nittany Lions with 29 appearances, tallying four wins and five saves, and he finished a third of the Lions' games. His most impressive stretch in 2015 came late in the season against Pitt, Rutgers and Michigan State when he made appearances in six consecutive games, throwing 14 innings with a 1.93 ERA, 1-1 record and three saves.
Do you know Jack?
Jack Anderson is a unique pitcher as he uses "submarine" style delivery.
The throwing motion allows the reliever to pitch multiple innings on consecutive days as well as warm-up quickly in the bullpen to enter the game on a moment's notice.
Of his 25 appearances this season, only five have been for an inning or less. He is averaging just under two innings per outing with a season high of 4 2/3 (Purdue, 4/2).
Anderson relies on deception and ball movement to keep hitters off balance and typically induces ground outs.
The style also minimizes extra base hits. Of the 157 hits Anderson has allowed in 157 2/3 innings pitched for his career. Just 24 have gone for extra bases: 22 doubles, two triples and no home runs.
Rewriting the Record Books
Every appearance by Jack Anderson from here on out will be a new Penn State career record, as his 86th career trip to the mound at Lafayette (4/6) set a new standard.
He currently has 94 career appearances.
With a career-high 11 saves this season, Jack Anderson now has 23 to hold the Penn State career record, surpassing Drew O'Neil (2007-08). O'Neil posted a single-season record 11 in back-to-back seasons.
Anderson needs one more save to break the single-season record.
See Records Watch, Page 20
Tough to Earn
The only teams to earn a run off of Anderson this season are UNCW (3/5), Princeton (3/12), Michigan State (4/10) and No. 10 TCU (5/8).
The highest Anderson's ERA has risen all year was 1.46 after allowing his second earned run of the year vs. Princeton in his seventh appearance of the season.
Crucial Innings
17 of Jack Anderson's 25 appearances this season have resulted in him factoring in the decision, as he has tallied a career-high 11 saves, matched his career high of four wins, and suffered one defeat.
Of his two losses, the first came at Richmond (3/13) and was due to an unearned run, and the second was after entering in the eighth inning in a tie game against No. 10 TCU.
Anderson picked up his fourth win of the season by pitching the final three innings against Northwestern (4/15).
He pitched a season-high 4 2/3 innings to earn the win in extra innings against Purdue (4/2, G2).
Dramatic Finishes
Jack Anderson has worked out of some tough spots this season, often entering before the ninth inning.
Perhaps his most thrilling outing of the season, Anderson set season highs for walks and strikeouts in a 2 1/3 inning save at Rutgers (4/24).
Anderson walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out, but ultimately struck out the side, getting the final out on the second pay-off pitch in a full count.
Making his collegiate debut in his home town of Evanston, Illinois, Anderson earned a three-inning win after taking the mound with an unearned runner on base. The run scored but Anderson kept Northwestern (4/15) scoreless and allowed Penn State to score late and win.
Anderson was called upon with a one-run lead against Michigan State (4/12, G2) in the seventh inning. He allowed two runs (one unearned) but earned the win.
Anderson entered in tie games against Purdue (4/1-2, G2) earning the win in both.
He pitched two full innings against Niagara (3/19, G1) for his fourth save of the season.
At Duke, Anderson entered with a runner on second base with two outs in the eighth inning. Anderson hit and walked a batter to load the bases before getting the inning-ending out without allowing a run.
For his second save opportunity, Anderson worked the final 2 1/3 innings with just a one-run cushion. He entered the game with two outs in the seventh and a runner on first who moved into scoring position on a passed ball.
He earned his first save of the season in dramatic fashion against Army for Penn State's first victory of the year. Nursing a one-run lead, Anderson entered in the eighth inning with runners on the corners and no outs, and did not allow a run over the final two innings.
Youthful Lineup
Penn State is not afraid to rely on its freshmen.
Penn State has used starting lineups featuring at least three freshmen in all but six games and has had no less than two freshmen starting each game.
The Lions have had five start on 12 occasions with a season-high of six on three occasions.
Freshman RHP Justin Hagenman leads the team with a 6-2 record and has a rotation-leading 3.24 ERA.
Freshman middle infielder Conlin Hughes has started all but three games.
Corner infielder Willie Burger leads the team with 32 RBIs despite playing in just 32 of 48 games.
Penn State's three-man weekend rotation has consisted entirely of underclassmen. See Freshmen in the Lineup, Page 10
Haley's Comets
Jim Haley picked up where he left off to start the 2016 season.
After batting .436 with seven doubles and a triple over final nine games of the 2015 season, Haley opened the 2016 campaign with a 10-game hitting streak.
Haley had an 11-game hitting streak halted in the final game of the Purdue series (4/2).
Haley owns the longest reached base streak of the season at 18 games.
Haley leads the team entering the week with a .339 batting average, 12 doubles, three triples, 17 extra base hits and 19 multi-hit games. He ranks fourth on the squad with 27 RBIs and two home runs.
At Northwestern (4/17), Haley matched his career high of four hits, going 4-for-6 with two doubles and three runs. The game followed his first games of back-to-back no hits.
For the first time in his career, he has drawn starts at third base this season.
Haley hit his first career home run during the South Carolina series.
One-Run Improvement
Penn State is 6-4 in one run games after going just 1-7 in such games last year.
Red-Hot Riotto
Nick Riotto missed seven games due to injury, but returned for the Maryland series (4/29-30). He led off the second game of the series with a solo home run. It stood as the game's lone run until the eighth inning when Penn State added an insurance run.
The lead-off batter leads the team with a .433 on-base percentage and is second with a .316 batting average.
Riotto batted .488 during a 10-game hitting streak (3/30-4/13), going 21-for-43 with a team-high 11 RBIs, a team-high 12 runs, a home run, two doubles and three walks and two hit-by-pitches for a .531 on-base percentage.
It tied for the second longest streak for a Nittany Lion this year. Jim Haley posted a 10-game streak and an 11-game streak.
His home run at Lafayette (4/6) was his first this season and the second of his career.
More Than Batting Average
The Lions rank sixth in the Big Ten with 187 walks.
At first glance it might be surprising that James Coates, is drawing regular starts with a .180 batting average, but the senior's patience at the plate has resulted in a team-best 32 walks as well as a .383 on-base percentage, which ranks third on the team.
The 32 walks rank sixth in the conference.
Coates entered the season with just one career home run, but is tied for the team lead with three this season.
He ranks fifth all-time at Penn State with 98 career walks, 30 shy of the record.
Sacrifice Flies
With 27 sacrifice flies, Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th in the country.
Tyler Kendall ranks second in the Big Ten and sixth in the country with seven.
Kendall needs one more sac fly to tie the PSU single-season record, and with 11 for his career, needs two more to tie the career record.
Greg Guers has 11 sacrifice flies at Penn State to rank two shy of the record.