UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-The home opener in baseball Is always exciting, but this weekend will be even more so for the Penn State baseball program, as it is off to a fantastic 10-3 start.
Players like sophomore Parker Hendershot are feeling pretty good with their current record compared to last year.
"It's a good feeling. Last year obviously didn't come out to the way we wanted it to," said Hendershot. "We've played very good teams this year already-two ACC teams-and we've beaten good teams. So I think coming home with that record, we're coming home with a lot of confidence,."
Head coach Rob Cooper is ready for the fans to see how well his team has been playing.
"Being able to play at home in such a great venue here at Medlar Field, I am excited to do that," said Cooper. "I know that our families, our community, our fans are excited to get back. I know the Cooper's Town group is excited to get out here and watch us play, and we're excited to have them here."
The team sure is doing well, as these past few weeks have shown. Additions to the team have proven useful as the freshmen helped the team give a dominating performance over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Two freshmen got their first starts of their collegiate careers, and they did not disappoint. Designated hitter Ryan Ford got on base four times, walking three times with a double as his first career hit, and scored three runs.
Third baseman Justin Williams got his first career hit, with a two-run-double in the second inning, as part of a 3-for-5 day.
The success continued with pitching, as freshman LHP Tyler Shingledecker secured his first career win after throwing for four innings, only allowing Pittsburgh one run on four hits and a walk. He struck out four Panthers.
Hendershot knows how important the new players are to the success this team has seen so far, as well as the team's mind set.
"There's a lot of people that have come in that bring different energy to this program and I think it all comes down to our competitiveness," Hendershot said. "Whether it's practice, on our own time, lift, whatever it may be, we're very good at competing, and I think that's helped us a lot."
Cooper also sees how competitive this team is.
"The stuff you have to choose to do to get better at, the competitive spirit, I'd give us a high grade," Cooper said.
However, a repeated theme that he instills in his team is focusing on the present more than anything else.
"We need to just stay focused on right now. You get too caught up in the past that's a problem, you get too caught up in the future, that's a problem. That's why you just got to focus on today."
Penn State is hosting UMass Lowell in a four-game series as the Nittany Lions kick off their first home games of the 2019 season.
