AS A R-SOPHOMORE IN 2011: Appeared in 38 games with 34 starts during the year ... Finished fourth on the team with five home runs ... Also contributed eight doubles and a pair of triples for an outstanding .433 slugging percentage ... Earned first-team All-BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge honors after posting a .444 batting average with three extra-base hits during the first three games of the season ... Started both game-winning rallies against Seton Hall and West Virginia after roping a leadoff pinch-hit triple in the seventh against the Pirates before kicking off a three-run eighth-inning rally against the Mountaineers the following afternoon ... Added a pair of doubles against Notre Dame on February 20 ... Continued his hot start to the year with a home run in both ends of a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky on February 26 ... Posted a season-best seven-game hitting streak from March 25 - April 13 ... Chipped in with a pair of hits, including his third bomb of the season, against Northwestern on April 9 ... Capped off the streak with a 3-for-4 effort with three RBI and a pair of doubles against Pittsburgh on April 13 ...Wrapped up a five-game hitting streak with his fourth home run of the year against Iowa on May 6 ... Knocked in three with a bases-clearing triple in the second inning against Minnesota on May 13 ... Returned to do more damage against the Golden Gophers during the Big Ten Tournament with a solo home run on May 26 in front of his hometown crowd in Columbus, Ohio ... Only starter that did not commit an error during the season ... Led Penn State with four outfield assists ... Gunned down runners at the plate to preserve a one-run lead against Albany on March 27 and to keep Michigan State scoreless during a first-inning rally on April 30 ... Earned the Big Ten Network[apos]s Play of the Week with a sensational diving grab against the Spartans on April 30.
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010: Redshirted after suffering an injury early in the season ... Earned first start of the season against Notre Dame (2/28), walking twice before being injured in the ninth inning ... First action of the season came in a pinch-running role vs. Seton Hall (2/27).
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009: Saw action in three games backing up sophomore catchers Ben Heath and Bobby Jacobs ... Finished the season with a .250 average behind 1-for-4 hitting ... The lone hit was a double in only start of the season, in game two of a doubleheader against Rutgers (3/14) ... Also scored a run ... Saw defensive action vs. NYIT (3/22) ... Made collegiate debut against Lehigh (3/8), finishing 0-for-1 off the bench.
HIGH SCHOOL: Batted .466 with four home runs and 42 RBI in 2008 to lead St. Francis DeSales (Columbus, Ohio) to a 28-3 record ... Earned All-Central Catholic League, All-District and Second Team All-Ohio honors ... The Stallions won two district titles in his time ... Also played football for three years ... Named All-CCL, All-District and Special Mention All-Ohio.
PERSONAL: Full name is Ryan Dennis Clark ... Born on January 5, 1990 in Columbus, Ohio ... Parents are Rob and Tammi Clark ... Has a sister named Morgan (15) ... Majoring in communications and minoring in business.
ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'I chose Penn State because the coaches were a good fit for me and the academics were superior.'
CLARK[apos]S CAREER STATISTICS
Year AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG BB HBP OBP SB-ATT PO-A-E FLD%
2009 .250 3-1 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 .500 0 0 .250 0-0 10-1-0 1.000
2010 .000 2-1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 .400 0-0 1-0-1 .500
2011 .231 38-34 134 18 31 8 2 5 16 58 .433 12 3 .309 0-3 89-4-0 1.000
Total .227 43-36 141 19 32 9 2 5 16 58 .426 14 3 .310 0-3 100-5-1 .991
GETTING TO KNOW RYAN
Nickname: Clarky
Major & Why: Communications. Minor in Business.
Favorite Thing About Penn State: Great tradition, student support for athletics
Favorite Thing About Medlar Field At Lubrano Park: Nice playing surface, Nittany Nook (can hit it there, but never over it)
Favorite Major League Baseball Player: Nick Swisher
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Baseball: Football
Favorite Athletic Memory at Penn State: First-career hit against Rutgers in Florida
Favorite Athlete (Any Sport): Chad Ochocinco
Favorite Pro Team: Cincinnati Bengals & Reds
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Marty Brennaman
Favorite Musical Artist: Lil Wayne, Kenny Chesney
Favorite Movie: Tommy Boy
Favorite TV Shows: King of Queens & Dirty Jobs
Favorite Websites: ESPN.com & Facebook.com
Favorite Food: Italian (any type)
Hobbies: Ping Pong, N-64
Places I[apos]d Like To Visit: Wrigley Field, Fenway Park
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Buy my parents and family houses and give to charity
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Play professionally and/or get into sales