May 12, 2016
| PENN STATE at NEBRASKA | |
| Friday, May 13 - 7:35 p.m. ET | |
| Saturday, May 14 - 3:05 p.m. ET | |
| Sunday, May 15 - 12:35 p.m. ET | |
Hawks Field | Lincoln, Neb.
| GAME DAY LINKS |
| Game 1: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video |
| Game 2: Live Stats | Live Audio | BTN Plus |
| Game 3: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video |
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| Gameday Central |
| Game Notes: Penn State | Nebraska |
| Statistics: Penn State | Nebraska |
LINCOLN, Neb. - Penn State baseball heads west to Nebraska for a crucial Big Ten series opening Friday at 7:35 p.m. in Hawks Field. The series will continue Saturday at 3:05 p.m. ET on BTN Plus and conclude Sunday starting at 12:35 p.m. The Sunday game time was changed from its previously scheduled time to accommodate Penn State's travel arrangements.
Essentials
Live Video: BTN Plus (Saturday Only)
Live Audio: GoPSUsports.com
Live Stats: Huskers.com
TV: NET (Nebraska, Saturday only)
Radio: ESPN Radio 1450 AM (Brian Tripp)
Series History: 0-4 (2012)
Last Series: At Nebraska, 0-3 (5/2-4/14)
Streak: L4
Friday Probables
PSU LHP Nick Hedge (4-2, 2.58 ERA)
NEB RHP Derek Burkamper (5-1, 2.91 ERA)
Saturday Probables
PSU RHP Sal Biasi (5-4, 3.77 ERA)
NEB RHP Matt Waldron (5-2, 3.49 ERA)
Sunday Probables
PSU RHP Justin Hagenman (6-2, 3.24 ERA)
NEB LHP Jake Meyers (4-1, 1.74 ERA)
Diamond Lions Improving
At 26-23, Penn State owns its best record through 49 games since 2011. Penn State's 26 wins are its most since winning 29 in 2012.
B1G Battle Looming
The race for Big Ten 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.
This weekend's series is crucial to the Nittany Lions' hopes for moving up in the standings. Notable series to watch this weekend include Illinois at Indiana and Michigan State at Iowa. Illinois and Iowa (10th, 8-10) losses would shrink Penn State's magic number of six to clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth.
The Lions enter the weekend controlling their own destiny, as winning their remaining games would be enough to clinch a postseason berth.
Anderson Successful All-Around
Recent graduate Jack Anderson has been successful in the classroom and on the field, 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 before Penn State's Sunday game against No. 10 TCU. In yet another milestone for the 2016 Nittany Lions, 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 95, which also ranks ninth amongst active Division I pitchers and 12th amongst all divisions of NCAA baseball. His 24 career saves rank 11th amongst active Division I pitchers and are also a Penn State record. With 12 saves this season, Anderson broke the Lions' single-season record in his last outing and he leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation. In a Big Ten-leading 26 appearances, Anderson has a 4-2 record and 1.31 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. Nebraska
Penn State is traveling to Lincoln for the first time since 2014 and the second time ever. The Nittany Lions and Huskers have only met four times previously, with Nebraska sweeping the inaugural Big Ten series in 2014 and knocking PSU out of the 2012 Big Ten tournament.
Head Coach Darin Erstad
Darin Erstad was named the 23rd head coach of the Nebraska baseball program - and the fifth since 1947 - on June 2, 2011. The Huskers have played in a conference tournament each of Erstad's first four seasons, including a pair of runner-up finishes. A two-time Major League All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Erstad was also, one of the most decorated players in Nebraska baseball history, Erstad was a first-team All-American in 1995, before embarking on a 14-year career in Major League Baseball. Erstad wrapped up his professional career in the fall of 2009, after playing for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1996-06), Chicago White Sox (2007) and Houston Astros (2008-09). He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Scouting Nebraska
Nebraska carries a 31-17 overall record and 11-7 Big Ten record into the weekend. The Huskers are one of the top hitting teams in the Big Ten ranking in the top five in all offensive categories. Jake Placzek leads the league and ranks seventh in the country with 47 walks. Scott Schreiber leads the league with 11 home runs and is third with 43 RBIs. Chad Luensmann is second to Penn State's Jack Anderson with 11 saves.
Shifting Into High Guers
Greg Guers is heating up at the plate again with hits in his last five games and home runs in his last two.
The stretch includes three formidable opponents: Maryland, No. 10 TCU (3 games) and Pitt.
Guers had four two-hit games to start the streak.
He was Penn State's leading hitter against TCU going 6-for-13.
Guers doubled and homered in the TCU finale and then hit a three-run home run late against Pitt.
Friday Night Lights for Hedge
Nick Hedge is returning to the Friday night starter role this weekend after taking on the role last season.
Hedge has been used as a reliever and mid-week starter this season.
He is enjoying a career year with a 4-2 record and 2.58 ERA in 45 1/3 innings pitched, the second most of his career.
His next start will be the 35th of his career, tying him for 10th all-time at Penn State.
See Records Watch, Page 21
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 3.62 team ERA, which ranks 49th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten.
Jack Anderson leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally with 12 saves and ranks second in the Big Ten and 38th nationally with 26 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.
Lengthy Season
If all three games this weekend are completed as scheduled, Penn State will have 52 games played for its most since playing 56 in 2012.
Inclement weather limited Penn State to 48 games last season.
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 2.82 ERA in 188 innings pitched with a 10-6 record and 14 saves.
Second to Anderson in innings pitched is Dakota Forsyth, who has thrown 41 innings over 18 appearances with a 1.54 ERA and 2-3 record. He earned the win in his most recent appearance at Pitt (5/11).
Nick Distasio is third in the bullpen with 31 innings pitched over 15 appearances.
After struggling in his season debut at then-No. 15 South Carolina, Tom Mullin has posted a 2.35 ERA in 15 1/3 innings over his last six appearances since.
Mullin 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.
Tough to Earn
The only teams to earn a run off of Jack 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 to this year was 1.46 after allowing his second earned run of the year vs. Princeton in his seventh appearance of the season.
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 preseason watch list for the award.
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 in the Big Ten. He also led the Lions with 29 appearances, tallying four wins and five saves. His most impressive stretch in 2015 came late 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 26 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 159 innings pitched for his career. Just 24 have gone for extra bases: 22 doubles, two triples and no home runs.
Rewriting the Record Books
Jack Anderson holds the Penn State records for career appearances and career and single-season saves.
He currently has 95 career appearances.
With a career-high 12 saves this season, Jack Anderson has 24 for his career. He surpassed Drew O'Neil (2007-08) for both. O'Neil posted a single-season record 11 in back-to-back seasons.
One-Run Improvement
Penn State is 6-3 in one run games after going just 1-7 in such games last year.
Crucial Innings
18 of Jack Anderson's 26 appearances this season have resulted in him factoring in the decision, as he has tallied a career-high 12 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).
More Than Batting Average
The Lions rank sixth in the Big Ten with 191 walks.
At first glance it might be surprising that James Coates, is drawing regular starts with a .181 batting average, but the senior's patience at the plate has resulted in a team-best 32 walks as well as a .387 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.
See Records Watch, Page 21
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 34 RBIs despite playing in just 34 of 49 games.
Penn State's three-man weekend rotation has consisted entirely of underclassmen. See Freshmen in the Lineup, Page 10
Haley's Comets
After batting .436 with seven doubles and a triple over final nine games of the 2015 season, Jim 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 end with a .340 batting average, 12 doubles, three triples and 20 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.
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 .432 on-base percentage and is second with a .327 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.
Sacrifice Flies
With 28 sacrifice flies, Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th in the country.
Tyler Kendall ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh in the country with seven.
Willie Burger is fourth in the league and 18th nationally with six.
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.
See Records Watch, Page 21