AS A SENIOR IN 2011: Saw action in 51 games with 49 starts during his final season in Happy Valley ... Established himself as one of the Big Ten[apos]s most feared power hitters, ranking second in the league with nine home runs ... Also drew 32 walks during the year, which ranked third in the conference ... Started 44 games as the designated hitter before seeing additional time in rightfield at the end of the year ... Roped a two-out, go-ahead RBI single to clinch a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against West Virginia on February 19 during the BIG EAST / Big Ten Challenge ... Had a breakout game against Eastern Kentucky on February 27, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a mammoth solo home run that clanked off the batter[apos]s eye in straightaway centerfield ... Continued his power surge in the very next game with a bomb against NC State on March 4 ... Had back-to-back two-hit efforts against Norfolk State on March 12 and 13 ... Stole a career-high three bases during the latter contest against the Spartans ... Went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored against No. 26 Wichita State on March 20 ... Capped off the game with a three-run blast in the 11th inning to seal the 9-4 victory over the Shockers ... Clubbed a home run against Kent State on April 5 before launching his fifth of the season during a doubleheader against Northwestern on April 9 ... Finished the twin bill with five RBI and two runs scored ... Fired a home run and added three RBI against Bucknell on April 27 ... Put on a tremendous power display during the squad[apos]s series against Minnesota, launching a home run against the Golden Gophers on May 13 before crushing two more during the series finale on May 15 ... Ranked third on the team with nine multi-RBI games during the 2011 campaign.
AS A JUNIOR IN 2010: Strong first season in Happy Valley, hitting .263 with nine home runs and 37 RBI ... The nine long balls were second on the team, only to Ben Heath[apos]s 18 ... Six of them came in conference play, the most by any designated hitter in the Big Ten ... Slugged .474, third on the squad while also walking 25 times to up on-base percentage to .370 ... Went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in the series opener at Minnesota (5/14) ... Homered in four of six games spanning Apr. 24 through May 2 ... Also recorded at least one RBI in six straight games, his second streak of six or more game this season ... Hit a big two-run home run in series finale vs. Michigan State (5/2) ... Went 1-for-4 with a mammoth home run to right vs. La Salle (4/27) ... Hit second home run in as many days, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in the series finale against the Buckeyes (4/25) ... Went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in front of many friends and family at Ohio State (4/24) ... Big day vs. Duquesne (4/20), going 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, three RBI and two runs scored ... 1-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored in series opener at Purdue (4/16) ... Was intentionally walked twice after pinch-hitting appearance vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh (4/13) ... Went 1-for-3 in consecutive games against Northwestern (4/9-10) ... Walked twice against Bucknell (4/6) ... Finished sensational week by going 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Marked his sixth multi-hit game of the season ... Huge game at Illinois (4/2) in first-ever Big Ten game, finishing 3-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored ... Hit second home run of the season at Kent State (3/30), finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored ... Had a hit, RBI and two walks in Game Two of a doubleheader against Hofstra (3/27) ... Recorded an RBI in seven consecutive games dating from Mar. 12 at Texas State to Mar. 21 against Kent State ... Went 2-for-6 with a double and career-high four RBI at Winthrop (3/20) ... Was 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored earlier in the day against Columbia (3/20) ... Started the Coca-Cola Classic with 2-for-4 effort against Kent State (3/19). Also had two RBI and a run scored ... Posted an RBI in all three games of the Texas State (3/12-14) series. Also played in the field for the first time all season, seeing time in the outfield ... Reached base twice at Texas A&M (3/9), recording a walk, double and run scored ... Went 2-for-5, including first home run in a Penn State uniform, against Dallas Baptist (3/6) ... Had Penn State[apos]s second walk-off single in as many days, doing so in the 13th inning against Seton Hall (2/27). Finished the game 1-for-4 with two walks and the RBI ... Posted a hit in debut with the Nittany Lions against Cincinnati (2/26), finishing 1-for-3.
BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE: Strong contributor for the Blinn Junior College Buccaneers out of Brenham, Texas ... Hit .316 with five home runs and 38 RBI as a freshman in 2007 ... Nominated to Junior College All-Star Game in the fall of 2008 ... Buccaneers hit over 100 home runs that year ... Voted team captain for the spring of 2009.
HIGH SCHOOL: Led Langham Creek High School to back-to-back 20+ win seasons ... Named First-Team All-District and was a unanimous selection for the All-Greater Houston All-Star Team ... Also played for the Houston Raiders out of the Premier Senior League ... Busy outside of baseball as well, volunteering to help out Special Olympics and various other activities.
PERSONAL: Full name is Mario Anthony Eramo ... Born on April 24, 1989 in Charlotte, N.C. ... Parents are Mark and Trish Eramo ... Brother of Natalie (18) and Dominic (16) ... Majoring in communication arts and sciences.
ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'I choose Penn State because ever since I was a little kid, it has been my dream to attend a major Division I college like Penn State. Also, I have the opportunity to participate in athletics while attending school, which was something I couldn[apos]t pass up. A big influence in my reason for Penn State was the coaching staff. They are a really great group of guys and really convinced me that this was the right place for me.'
ERAMO[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%
2010 .263 47-40 152 26 40 5 0 9 37 72 .474 25 3 .370 0-4 25-0-5 .833
2011 .201 51-49 174 27 35 7 0 9 29 69 .397 32 4 .335 5-8 14-0-1 .933
Total .230 98-89 326 53 75 12 0 18 66 141 .433 57 7 .351 5-12 39-0-6 .867
GETTING TO KNOW MARIO
Major: CAS (Communications Arts and Sciences)
Favorite Thing About Penn State: The tradition
Favorite Thing About Medlar Field At Lubrano Park: Mt. Nittany behind center field
Favorite Major League Baseball Player: Derek Jeter
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Baseball: Volleyball
Favorite Athlete (Any Sport): Lance Armstrong
Favorite Pro Team: New York Yankees
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Bob Costas
Favorite Musical Artist: Frank Sinatra
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite TV Show: Everybody Loves Raymond
Favorite Website: Google
Favorite Food: Italian
Hobbies: Golfing, fishing, jogging, outdoors
Childhood Idol: My Papa
Place I[apos]d Like To Visit: Italy
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Purchase a large house on private property looking over the beach
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Open up a pizza bar