ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM (2009)
BIG TEN ALL-ROOKIE TEAM (2009) AS A JUNIOR IN 2011: One of only three players to start all 54 games for the Nittany Lions ... Anchored third base and the heart of the batting order throughout the season ... Led the team and finished third in the Big Ten with 57 RBI ... Also ranked second in the conference with five triples and fifth with eight home runs and a .544 slugging percentage ... Knocked in at least two runs on 14 occasions, which was the highest total on the team ... Kicked off the season with a seven-game hitting streak, highlighted by a 3-for-4 effort against Eastern Kentucky on February 26 when he scored twice and blasted his first home run of the season ... Drove in three runs against Old Dominion on March 9 and equaled that feat just three days later against Norfolk State after going 4-for-4 with a double in the first game of a doubleheader against the Spartans ... Continued his hot streak with two more hits in the nightcap against Norfolk State before wrapping up the series with a double and home run on March 13 ... Kept his power surge going with a bomb against No. 26 Wichita State on March 20 before crushing two against Le Moyne on March 25 ... Also added four RBI, two runs scored, and a double against the Dolphins ... Did more damage against Le Moyne in the series finale after going 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI on March 27 ... Capped off an incredible 3-6-5 triple play on April 2 against Illinois, which earned the top spot on the Big Ten Network's Plays of the Week ... Had one of his finest offensive efforts of the season the following day against the Illini ... Drove in a season-high six runs and scored twice while going 3-for-5 with a home run during a crucial victory against Illinois ... That performance kicked off a season-best nine game hitting streak, highlighted by six multi-hit efforts ... Added three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored in the first game of a doubleheader against Northwestern on April 9 before scoring three more times in the nightcap ... Posted five hits and five RBI during the Purdue series from April 15-17 ... Collected another three-hit game during the series finale against Michigan State on May 1 after roping his fourth triple of the season one day earlier ... Fired two hits in back-to-back games on May 10 and 11, including his seventh home run of the season against Pittsburgh in front of his hometown crowd in the Steel City ... Wrapped up the regular season with three hits, three runs scored, two RBI, and a home run in a victory over Michigan on May 21, which helped clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth for Penn State ... Scored a run in both playoff games and added a base hit against Minnesota on May 26 ... Selected in the 30th round by the Houston Astros in the major league draft.
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010: Strong sophomore campaign, hitting .297 with seven home runs and 44 RBI, both career-highs ... Started every inning of all 52 games at third base ... His 111 total bases are good for ninth in single-season school history while the RBI total stands just outside the top 10 ... Led all Big Ten third basemen in RBI ... Tied for the team lead with 16 doubles, tied for sixth on the Penn State all-time list ... Strong series to close season vs. Michigan (5/20-22), going a combined 5-for-14 with two doubles and three RBI. Among those hits was a clutch bases loaded walk-off single in the middle game of the series To see video of the single, please click Caribbean Islands
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Donate most of it and buy my parents new cars
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Continue to play baseball for as long as I can