UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-Penn State found success in their opening series of the 2019 season, partially because of its strong pitching.
That pitching proved especially influential last weekend, as the team opened with a sweep over Monmouth and currently ranks first in fewest hits allowed per nine innings throughout opening weekend of NCAA Division I Baseball.
On Friday, strong pitching from redshirt sophomore LHP Dante Biasi and sophomore RHP Mason Mellott kept Monmouth scoreless, while senior Ryan Sloniger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, allowing junior Mason Nadeau to score. The pitching efforts paid off and marked the first Opening Day shutout since 1977 for Penn State baseball.
On Saturday, the team secured another shutout win, 7-0, making history as the first team in program history (131 seasons) to start the season with back to back shutouts. Sophomore RHP Bailey Dees pitched six innings, earning the win, while his former Hough High School teammate, freshman LHP Tyler Shingledecker, finished off the game with the save.
Shingledecker was excited that he and his high school teammate made history together.
"It's pretty honorable, that it's the first time that's ever happened," Shingledecker said. "It's great for the pitching staff because we've all been putting in a lot of work in the offseason and everybody as a whole deserves it."
Sunday, the team defeated Monmouth 6-4, with redshirt junior RHP Eric Mock pitching, and striking out nine in six one-hit innings, a career high for the pitcher. Redshirt sophomore RHP Jared Freilich and freshman LHP Hutch Gagnon shared pitching duties in the seventh inning and Mellott pitched the final two innings for the save.
Saturday's game was also unique as the North Carolina pitching duo got to play in front of familiar faces.
"It was also good to see family come up. They don't get to go to a whole lot of games, so it's good for them to come up," Shingledecker said.
Head coach Rob Cooper is impressed with what he saw from the North Carolina duo so far.
"Bailey Dees, he's worked really, really hard to be a guy in the rotation, and so for him to come out on Saturday and really kind of make a statement with his start, and do it in front of his family and friends [was good]," Cooper said.
He was also happy to see such a strong performance from Shingledecker in his first regular season collegiate game.
"Then Tyler Shingledecker. That's his D1 debut. I know that the coaching staff and the people over near Hough High School, near Charlotte, we're really excited, and they should be. I mean those guys did a really good job," Cooper said.
For Dees, Saturday's game was made easier due to his teammates working hard on offense.
"Pitching, obviously was good, but the hitters make it a lot easier to pitch when you're up 7-0, versus when it's a tight ballgame, so credit to the hitters too," Dees said.
Dees also feels that the team is coming together and doing their part to win.
"I would say the biggest thing is completing every pitch, not getting distracted on the mound, knowing that you have a chance every pitch against a hitter, and if someone gets on base, sort of staying locked in, and realizing that look 'you've got one job, and it's do your job,'" Dees said.
"At this point, we know our role and everyone's starting to take accountability of their role and I think we're all coming together collectively as a group well."
With a successful opening weekend behind them, the Penn State baseball team is excited to keep the momentum going.
"This weekend we got quality starts from all three starters which set the tone for our bullpen guys to follow. We pitched to our strengths and absolutely pounded the strike zone. It was a lot of fun to watch these guys compete!", assistant coach Josh Newman said.
Cooper was also excited about pitchers like Newman and wants to see continued growth in that area.
"As good as our guys pitched, I know that they can pitch better. But what I took from it, was guys going out and attacking the hitters and trusting what they had, so it was good," head coach Rob Cooper said.
Looking Ahead
Penn State will head back to Cary, North Carolina as they face Fairfield in a four-game series at the USA Baseball Complex.
As far as the starting line-up goes for this weekend, it will look very similar to last weekend. Cooper plans to have redshirt sophomore Dante Biasi pitch on Saturday, Dees pitch for the first of two games on Sunday and then redshirt junior Eric Mock will pitch Monday.
