Feb. 23, 2017
| PENN STATE VS. XAVIER | |
| Friday, Feb. 24 - 3:00 p.m. ET | |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 - Noon ET (DH) | |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 - 11:00 a.m. | |
USA Baseball National Training Complex | Cary, N.C.
| GAME DAY LINKS |
| Game 1: |
| Game 2: |
| Game 3: |
| Baseball Blog | Baseball Videos |
| Follow Us: @PennStateBASE | Facebook | Instagram |
| Gameday Central |
| Statistics: Penn State | Xavier |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.. - Penn State will continue its early road swing by hosting defending Big East Champion Xavier in a four-game series starting Friday at 3 p.m. in the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The teams are slated to play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon before concluding the series Sunday at starting at 11 a.m.
Essentials
Live Video: N/A
Live Audio: N/A
Live Stats: GoPSUsports.com
TV: N/A
Radio: N/A
Series History: First Meeting
Last Series vs. Xavier: N/A
Streak: N/A
Friday Probables
PSU RHP Sal Biasi (0-1, 4.91 ERA)
XU LHP Zac Lowther (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday Probables (Game 1)
PSU LHP Taylor Lehman (0-1, 20.25 ERA)
XU RHP Garrett Schilling (0-0, 1.29 ERA)
Saturday Probables (Game 2)
PSU RHP Justin Hagenman (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
XU LHP Trent Astle (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday Probables
PSU RHP Myles Gayman (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
XU LHP Greg Jacknewitz (0-1, 4.76 ERA)
USA Baseball National Training Complex
The USA Baseball National Training Complex is located within the 221 acre Thomas Brooks Park and includes four baseball fields -- a stadium field and three training fields -- all with dimensions of 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet in centerfield. All fields are maintained at Major League Baseball (MLB) standards. The Stadium field has a press box that includes two suites, an official scorer's room, a sound room and a press row. Spectator seating is for 1,754 people, including handicapped accessible seating, and additional grass seating for approximately 250 people. All fields have access to restroom facilities and a concession building.
Scouting Xavier
Xavier opened the season by splitting a four-game series at Troy. Freshman Conor Grammes was recognized by the BIG EAST on the league's weekly honor roll after a standout debut weekend in which he hit .471 (8-for-17) with three runs, three doubles, a homer and five RBI. The Musketeers have claimed two of the last three Big East Championships, including last season's, earning NCAA Regional berths both times. This is the first ever meeting between Penn State and Xavier.
Homecoming
Penn State has two student-athletes from the Raleigh-Durham area: junior catcher Alex Malinsky (Apex, N.C./Panther Creek) and freshman infielder Conlin Hughes (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs). Head coach Rob Cooper has also coached in the USA Baseball program, leading the 2013 U18 team to a gold medal.
Burger, Hughes Off to Strong Starts at the Plate
Hughes and fellow sophomore Willie Burger were the Nittany Lions' leading hitters at No. 1 TCU. Hughes doubled and drove in a run for a .300 weekend, while Burger homered twice in the series finale, accounting for all three runs. He batted 3-for-11 with the two home runs and five RBIs for the weekend.
Youthful Lineup
Penn State did not start more than one upperclassman in any of its first three games. Freshmen Joe Weisenseel and Mason Nadeau started all three games at shortstop and centerfield, respectively. Classmates Braxton Giavedoni and Logan Goodnight also made one start each and catcher Brett Davis appeared in two games. On the mound redshirt freshmen Eric Mock and Blake Hodgens and true freshmen Cole Bartels and Myles Gayman both made their debuts. Gayman is slated to make his first collegiate start Sunday.
Youthful Team Carrying Momentum
Penn State returns its entire starting pitching rotation and five starters to its lineup after going 28-27 in 2016 for its best record since 2012. The Lions are welcoming 10 newcomers but will need to replace key losses in their batting lineup and closer Jack Anderson. Anderson was a third-team All-Big Ten pick and was drafted by the Mariners following graduation, while all three of Penn State's top hitters for average - second-team All-Big Ten pick Greg Guers, Tampa Bay Rays draft pick Jim Haley and leading hitter Tyler Kendall - have departed. Penn State regularly relied on freshmen in its starting lineup last season with corner infielder Willie Burger and LHP Justin Hagenman earning All-Big Ten Freshman honors and Hagenman adding a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America nod - Penn State's first since 1997.
Big Ten Players to Watch
Junior RHP Sal Biasi, OF Nick Riotto and IF/C Willie Burger were tabbed as Big Ten Players to Watch.
In his first season as a starter last season, Biasi led the team in strikeouts with 66 and posted a 5-6 record over 13 starts and 14 appearances, totaling 67 1/3 innings. His 3.74 ERA ranked second among Penn State starters.
Riotto enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 and led the team with a .405 on-base percentage and ranked second with 24 walks. He struck out just 14 times in 197 at-bats and batted .307 to rank fourth on the team.
Burger was a unanimous pick to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, was a Big Ten Player of the Week and a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. He finished second on the team with 34 RBIs despite not appearing in 19 games.