March 9, 2017
| PENN STATE at SACRAMENTO STATE | |
| Thursday, Mar. 9 - 9:00 p.m. ET | |
| Friday, Mar. 10 - 9:00 p.m. ET | |
| Saturday, Mar. 11 - 4:00 p.m. ET | |
John Smith Field | Sacramento, Calif.
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| Game Notes: Penn State | Sacramento State |
| Statistics: Penn State | Sacramento State |
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - Penn State will conclude its seven-game California trip with a three-game series at Sacramento State starting Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. The series will continue Friday at 9 p.m. ET and the finale will start at 4 p.m. ET Saturday.
Essentials
Live Video: N/A
Live Audio: HornetSports.com/Radio
Live Stats: HornetStats.com
TV: N/A
Radio: N/A
Thursday Probables
PSU RHP Sal Biasi (1-1, 6.00 ERA)
SAC RHP Justin Dillon (2-0, 0.41 ERA)
Friday Probables
PSU RHP Justin Hagenman (1-1, 6.00 ERA)
SAC RHP Parker Brahms (1-1, 1.71 ERA)
Saturday Probables
PSU RHP Myles Gayman (0-1, 1.17 ERA)
SAC RHP Max Karnos (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Up to Bat
Penn State will conclude its seven-game California trip with a three-game series at Sacramento State starting Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. The series will continue Friday at 9 p.m. ET and the finale will start at 4 p.m. ET Saturday.
On the Road Again
Penn State is playing the final three games of a season-opening 14-game road stretch and a seven-game California spring break trip. The Nittany Lions are 2-2 on their western swing, taking two of three from Pacific and most recently falling in their lone contest against UC Davis.
The Golden State
The Nittany Lions are playing in California for the first time since 2014 when they went 2-6 against Saint Mary's, Fresno State and Santa Clara.
Homecoming for Coach
Penn State head coach Rob Cooper will be returning to his homeland as he grew up in Sacramento. He graduated from El Camino High School and also played at Sacramento City College in the early 1990's and was an assistant coach their from 1999-2003.
Youth Movement
The average Nittany Lion starter this season is not quite a sophomore, as the average class year (Freshman = 1 ... Senior = 4) across all 10 positions through 11 games is 1.96. On the mound the Lions are averaging 2.36 years of experience as compared to 1.92 at the plate.
The Nittany Lions have used underclassmen exclusively up the middle. Sophomores Ryan Sloniger and Willie Burger have platooned at catcher, with freshman Brett Davis also drawing a start, while sophomore Conlin Hughes has started every game at second base. Freshmen Joe Weisenseel and Mason Nadeau have started every game at shortstop and centerfield, respectively. Freshman Braxton Giavedoni has drawn eight of 11 starts in left field.
Penn State has started just one upperclassman position player in all but three games, and only has three on the roster.
Outfield Slugging
The Nittany Lion outfielders own the top three batting averages on the team. Sophomore Jordan Bowersox leads with a .432 average, going 19-for-44 with a team-high five doubles and eight RBIs. Freshman Mason Nadeau is second on the team with a .353 (12-for-34) batting average. He also has two doubles and five RBIs. Freshman Braxton Giavedoni has started the last nine games and is batting .313 (10-for-32) with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs. He also leads the team with six walks.
Streaking
Sophomore Conlin Hughes leads the team with a career-best 10-game hitting streak.
Hughes is fourth on the team with a .311 average and leads with six extra base hits (4 doubles, 2 home runs).
Classmate Jordan Bowersox owns an eight-game hitting streak.
Power Bump
Year-over-year, Penn State has more than double the extra base hits it had at the same point last year. Totaling 31 this season after totaling just 14 last season.
Doubles have almost tripled, going from nine in 2016 to 24 in 2017.
Home runs have doubled going from three to six.
The average Nittany Lion starting position layer in 2016 was in year 2.75 as opposed to 1.92 this season
The Lions also opened 2016 with a 4-7 record. They went on to post their best record since 2012 at 28-27.
Scouting Sacramento State
Penn State will face a tough test Thursday in senior pitcher Justin Dillon Thursday, who has allowed just one in his last two starts. He has allowed just one run on two hits and two walks with 25 strikeouts in 22.0 innings pitched over three starts. The Hornets most recently played at No. 11 Washington, winning the opening contest against the Huskies behind Dillon, but dropping the remaining three games.
Debuts
A total of 11 Nittany Lions have made their debuts this season.
Freshmen Mason Nadeau and Joe Weisenseel have started all 10 games so far this season.
Nadeau's first career hit was a double against Xavier (2/24), and he went 6-for-13 for the series.
Weisenseel singled at No. 1 TCU in his second game.
Freshman Braxton Giavedoni made his debut in the second game of the season at No. 1 TCU (2/18) and doubled for his first career hit when he drew his first start in the series finale.
RHP Myles Gayman pitched the final inning of the TCU series (2/19) and made his first career start against Xavier, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Redshirt freshmen LHP Blake Hodgens RHP Eric Mock both made their first appearances at No. 1 TCU.
Freshman Logan Goodnight made his debut starting at No. 1 TCU (2/18) and tallied his first career hit - a double - against Xavier (2/25).
Freshman RHP Cole Bartels made his debut pitching two innings at No. 1 TCU (19).
Freshman catcher Brett Davis entered in the second and third games at No. 1 TCU. He made his first career start and recorded his first career hit at Pacific (3/6)/
Junior transfer LHP Colin Macon and freshman RHP Tucker Triebold both made their debuts on the mound against Xavier (2/25).