UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State baseball is off to a 6-0 start, and one of the reasons for the team's success is junior college transfer Gavin Homer.
He's batting a team-best .400, and last Sunday, during the first game of the doubleheader against Fairfield, Homer hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning, leading his team to a 5-4 victory.
"It felt really good. It's always good to get a win. As a new guy just trying to put my stamp on the program, that was a unique opportunity for me to do that," Homer said.
Noting the clutch home run, head coach Rob Cooper feels that Homer has a keen eye at the dish.
"He's putting together some quality at bats overall. He's a winning baseball player in my mind," Cooper said.
In fact, the Battle Creek, Michigan, native currently has a .400 batting average through six games.
"I think the key for me is just trusting my preparation. We do a lot of training down in the cages, trying to challenge ourselves. When we get out on the field, it's a little slower," Homer said.
Homer played baseball at Kellogg Community College last season-where he hit .386 with 10 home runs and was named a NJCAA All-American.
"He's always looking to find a way to help the team win. He competes with two strikes. He's an unbelievable kid to coach," Cooper said.
And now that Homer is on the team, Cooper is excited for what he has brought and will continue to bring the Nittany Lions this season.
"Everything we thought he would be, he is. He loves playing."
Homer is used to people drawing the connection between his last name and his strength as a baseball player.
"Yeah ever since I've been playing baseball, I've been getting that, so I'm pretty used to it. And as a smaller guy, it's not something that people look for me to do, but when I go out there and do it, it's always a fun time," Homer said.
"If there is any connection, I have no problem with him hitting more of those for sure," Cooper said.
The Nittany Lions are in Florida as they face off against Duke for a three game series at the IMG Academy in Bradenton (Penn State's record against Duke: 8-4). The program is hoping to continue the success it has achieved so far as the season progresses.
"6-0 is a good feat, but if we can get Duke under our belt as another team that we've beaten I feel like it's an opportunity for us to show people what we're truly capable of," Homer said.
Following a week in the sun, as the team will play a three-game series in Orlando March 8th-10th, the team will return to University Park to face UMass Lowell in a three game series beginning March 15th.
