March 16, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After 12 straight games away from home, Penn State returns to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, opening its home slate with a three-game series against NJIT starting with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.
Penn State's home opener was rescheduled twice due to cold temperatures. The Nittany Lions were initially planning to host Mount St. Mary's Wednesday, but that game was postponed until April 17. The NJIT series was then initially scheduled to open Friday, but was delayed one day to a Saturday doubleheader. The second game Saturday will start 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
The NJIT series opens what is now a five-game homestand, as Penn State will welcome Bucknell Tuesday and Pittsburgh Wednesday before opening Big Ten play at Rutgers next weekend.
Promotions
Saturday
- 2018 Poster Giveaway
- St. Patrick's Day
- o Luck of the Lions - Prize raffle
Sunday
- 2018 Poster Giveaway
- Post-Game Kids Run the Bases
- Youth 12 and under in their Little League Jersey will receive FREE admission!
Essentials
Live Video: GoPSUsports.com
Live Audio: GoPSUsports.com
Live Stats: GoPSUsports.com
TV: N/A
Radio: State College's ESPN Radio 1450 (Games 2 & 3)
NJIT Series History: First Meeting
Last Series: N/A
Streak: N/A
Saturday Game 1 Probables
PSU RHP Justin Hagenman (1-1, 3.27 ERA)
NJIT RHP Sean Lubreski (2-0, 3.52 ERA)
Saturday Game 2 Probables
PSU LHP Taylor Lehman (1-1, 4.61 ERA)
NJIT RHP Tyler Staffinger (2-1, 3.45 ERA)
Sunday Probables
PSU LHP Dante Biasi (0-2, 10.38 ERA)
NJIT RHP Jared Kasco (1-2, 2.93 ERA)
Up to Bat
After 12 straight games away from home, Penn State returns to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, opening its home slate with a three-game series against NJIT starting with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.
Penn State's home opener was rescheduled twice due to cold temperatures. The Nittany Lions were initially planning to host Mount St. Mary's Wednesday, but that game was postponed until April 17. The NJIT series was then initially scheduled to open Friday, but was delayed one day to a Saturday doubleheader. The second game Saturday will start 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
The NJIT series opens what is now a five-game homestand, as Penn State will welcome Bucknell Tuesday and Pittsburgh Wednesday before opening Big Ten play at Rutgers next weekend.
Tight Games
Seven of Penn State's first 12 games were decided by one run, with Penn State going 3-4 in those seven games.
Seven of Penn State's 55 games played last season were decided by one run, with Penn State going 4-3 in those games. Penn State went 7-5 in 12 one-run games in 2016.
Three of Penn State's four wins have been by one run, and all have been decided by two runs or less. RHPs Eric Mock and Mason Mellott have two saves each.
Bats Heating Up
Penn State had one double-digit hitting performance in its first six games, but has had four such games in its last six games.
As a team, Penn State batted .201 in its first eight games, but has batted .273 in its last four games.
Junior OF Jordan Bowersox has been a catalyst with hits in each of the last four games, going 7-for-17 (.412) at the plate with two doubles, four runs and five RBIs.
Slugging Sloniger
Catcher Ryan Sloniger has a hit in 10 of 11 games this season, most recently tallying three hits and three RBIs in the final two games of the GCU series.
Sloniger opened the season on a nine-game hitting streak. It was the longest hitting streak to start a season since Jim Haley tallied at least one hit in the first 10 games of 2016.
Sloniger's two home runs and 13 RBIs surpass his 2017 totals of one home run and seven RBIs. He had two career home runs in 78 games played over his first two seasons.
Sloniger's 1.08 RBIs per game rank seventh in the Big Ten.
Sloniger has started all 12 games behind the plate this season.
Sloniger on Johnny Bench Watch List
Catch Ryan Sloniger was named as a nominee for the Johnny Bench Award, presented by BaseballSavings.com, which goes to the top catcher in Division I baseball.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2018. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2018. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 21st Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2018.
While Bench is remembered for his offense, he may have had the greatest impact behind the plate. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching one-handed and kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips.
Debuts
With 14 newcomers on the team, many fresh faces have seen action for the Nittany Lions.
A total of 13 of the 14 newcomers have seen action with eight earning starts.
Junior college transfer Shea Sbranti (1B) and freshman Curtis Robison (DH) were Opening Day starters for Penn State.
Freshman Mac Hippenhammer debuted as a pinch runner on Opening Day (at Elon), and then was replaced in the field by classmate Tommy Gibson.
Freshman Derek Orndorff debuted as a pinch hitter in the Lions' second game of the season (at Elon). Freshman relief pitchers Conor Larkin and Mason Mellott also debuted, with Mellott debuting in the ninth and earning his first career save.
Orndorff (1B) and Gibson (SS) made their first career starts in the third game of the season (at Elon). Redshirt freshman Dante Biasi started on the mound in his first collegiate action, and he carried a no-hitter into the fifth.
Larkin made his first start in Penn State's fifth game of the season (vs. Monmouth).
Freshmen Kris Kremer and Parker Hendershot made their debuts off the bench in the sixth game of the season (vs. No. 23 St. John's). Hendershot went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored. Pitchers Kyle Virbitsky and Bailey Dees debuted in relief.
Hippenhammer made his first career start (CF) in the eighth game of the year (at UCSB).
Hendershot made his first career start in the series finale at UCSB (Game 9). He went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
LHP Jeff Taylor made his collegiate debute in Game 10, the series opener at Grand Canyon. He was perfect in two innings, striking out two.