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North Atlantic Region - Regular Season
PSBC 12 v. Kent St. 6
RF Kris Park
The PSBC hosted its final conference series of the season at the Milesburg power plant against the Kent State Golden Flashes. RHP Weston Hillegas kept the Kent bats in check through 5 and 2/3 innings while striking out 9. At the plate, CF Andrew Criner went 2-4 and scored 3 runs. LF Eric Soring and 2B Dan Norris each launched their first home runs of the year, and 3B Craig Price went 3-5 with a two run double. RF Kris Park started his big weekend by going 3-4 with a home run and 4 RBI. RHP Ryan Keefer, making his first mound appearance since spring training, worked the final 3 and 1/3 innings striking out two.
PSBC 11 v. Kent St. 5
LHP Steve Blucher
LHP Steve Blucher took the mound for his second start of the year and worked effectively into the fifth inning striking out 7. CF Andrew Criner set the tone at the top of the order going 3-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. 1B Rob Slauch went 3-4 with a double and scored 2 runs. 3B Kris Park continued his assault on Kent State pitching going 3-4 with 3 RBI and homering for the second straight game. RHP Kyle Gilbert came onto relieve in the 5th and worked out of a bases loaded jam unscathed. He worked the final 2 and 1/3 innings striking out 2.
PSBC 11 v. Kent St. 0
RHP Greg Piehler
Penn State concluded its three game weekend by erupting for 11 runs in the first four innings of game 3. SS Steve Brouwers went 2-3 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. C Brad Gaugh and RF Wyatt Thompson each went 2-3 and scored a run. DH Kris Park finished an outstanding 3 game set by going 2-3 with a double and a pair of RBI. The PSBC story of the day was RHP Greg Piehler. He gave up only 1 hit in 5 innings of work while striking out 8 and walking none to complete the mercy rule shutout.
Buffalo 3 v. PSBC 5
RHP Weston Hillegas
A beautiful Bellefonte morning greeted visiting SUNY-Buffalo and the home standing PSBC during the 2010 edition of Blue/White Saturday. Penn State fell into an early 2-0 hole as a fly ball settled over the short right center field fence in the top of the first inning. The Lions responded quickly in their half of the frame. LF Eric Soring hammered an RBI double to right center and later came around to score on an errant throw to tie the game at two apiece. Though kept at bay much of the day by a steady diet of offspeed pitches, Penn State was able to add single runs in three different innings the rest of the way. C Brad Gaugh went 2-3 with a double and scored a run. RF Andy Georgeson also went 2-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. But the story of the day was RHP Weston Hillegas. Despite giving up two home runs, he allowed only 4 hits total on the day striking out 5 and allowing no walks. It was the first time all season that Penn State issued zero free passes in a game. His constant pounding of the strike zone allowed for the 7 inning game to be completed in a remarkable one hour and 38 minutes.
Buffalo 10 v. PSBC 14
3B/OF Kris Park
The second half of the day’s doubleheader took on a decidedly different feel as it featured a host of base runners and big swings from both teams. The tone was set by the top of Penn State’s order as CF Andrew Criner, SS Steve Brouwers, LF Eric Soring, and DH Kris Park each collected 3 hits in the game. The PSBC jumped out to an early lead, but Buffalo kept the pressure on, and the game remained close throughout. Penn State scored 3 in the fourth, 3 in the 5th, and one in the 6th to ultimately score a season high 14 runs in the contest. Starting RHP Ben Kittka battled through 5 innings to pick up the win, and RHP Andrew Felix closed out the final two frames. The Lions were able to sweep the doubleheader despite the big effort from Buffalo 1B Al Lesnick, who homered three times in the two games including a grand slam in the 6th inning of game two. The end of the day saw two hotly contested games between quality teams, so everyone was disappointed when the scheduled Sunday doubleheader was rained out.
PITT 1 v. PSBC 0 - PPD
Rain
The highly anticipated weekend series between Pitt and Penn State got off to a wet start Friday afternoon. The 9 inning contest got underway with Pitt quickly grabbing a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Then, with one out in the home half of the first, a freakish thunderstorm blew through normally sunny Bellefonte, PA and washed out game one of the series. That game will be resumed from the point of the stoppage at a later date. The two teams prepared to get down to business with a double header at a chilly Medlar field on Saturday.
PITT 4 v. PSBC 13
RHP Evan Dixon
Freshman RHP Evan Dixon took the mound for his first career PSBC start. Though lacking in pinpoint control on the windy day, he was able to strike out six in four innings of work without allowing a hit. Penn State busted the game wide open in the second inning by batting around and scoring 8 runs. It was the most runs scored in a single inning for the team this year. The PSBC was led by RF Kris Park’s monster 5-5 day that featured a double, 3 runs scored, and three runs batted in. DH Jason Freeman also went 3-3 with a double. On the day, eight starters in the Penn State lineup recorded at least one hit and one run scored. Down big in the 6th inning, Pitt showed some signs of life when head coach Rob Perkey, upset at a called 3rd strike on a check swing, launched into a spirited and highly theatrical argument with the home plate umpire. He was given a standing ovation from the hearty souls in attendance after being given the rest of the game off by the crew chief. Despite his best efforts, the call was not overturned. PSBC LHP Steve Blucher took care of things from there striking out three in as many innings to seal Penn State’s emphatic win.
PITT 3 v. PSBC 13
The PSBC
Pitt jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning against RHP Greg Piehler before Penn State unleashed its second big inning of the day in the bottom of the third. The Lions batted around plating 8 runners during the frame. Aided by several Pitt miscues in the field, Penn State took advantage with the big blows coming in the form of back to back RBI doubles by 1B Ryan Keefer and DH Rob Slauch. 3B Craig Price and CF Andy Georgeson each went 3-4 with a double in the game. Piehler settled in to work 5 innings while giving up 3 runs to earn the win. RHP Kyle Gilbert worked a scoreless sixth, and LF Eric Soring roped an RBI double into left center in the bottom of the 6th putting Penn State up by ten runs and triggering the mercy rule. The big bats were the story of the day as the Nittany Lions sent the big crowd home happy with two statement wins against the conference rival. Next up for Penn State is a four game set against the Buffalo Bulls in Bellefonte during the upcoming Blue/White weekend.
PSBC 13 v. PITT 1
C Brad Gaugh
After a weekend lost to rain, Penn State returned to Pittsburgh for a double header vs. the Panthers on a an unseasonably warm April afternoon. The day started well for the Lions in the top of the second. After a two out walk, 1B Rob Slauch sent a long fly ball down the line that eluded the left fielder and allowed the game’s first run to score. That was immediately followed by C Brad Gaugh’s line drive RBI double to the fence in left center. RHP Weston Hillegas set the pace from there working 5 efficient innings. He allowed 4 hits and only one run while striking out 6 on the day. Gaugh finished his breakout day with 4 RBI and his first home run; a long, majestic drive to deep left center. RF Andy Georgeson went 1-2 with an RBI drawing two walks and stealing a pair of bases. RHP Andrew Felix worked a scoreless 7th inning to close out the win.
PSBC 2 v. PITT 8
2B Jason Freeman
Coming off of a complete performance in game one, Penn State started slow in game two leaving multiple runners on base in the early innings. After falling behind 2-0 early, RHP Kyle Gilbert settled down to work through 5 innings. Penn State fought back to pull within a run at 3-2, but were hurt by a long 2 run homer by Pitt 1B Max Hegedus in the 5th inning. The Lions had a chance to get back into it after loading the bases in the top of the 6th but failed to score. Pitt added three insurance runs in the home half of the 6th to secure the victory. Offensively, Penn State was led by 2B Jason Freeman, who went 3-4 with a double. CF Andrew Criner went 2-3 with a walk. DH Kris Park and RF Wyatt Thompson each went 1-3 with an RBI. In the end, Penn State’s 11 men left on base was too much to overcome against an opportunistic Pitt team, and the day ended with a disappointing conference loss. The PSBC looks to get back on track this weekend with a doubleheader at Buffalo before welcoming Pitt back for three games at Medlar Field during alumni weekend.
PSBC 8 v. Kent St. 2
CF Andrew Criner
Coming off a successful spring training venture in Plant City, Florida, the PSBC opened up its 2010 conference schedule with a pair of games on the road against the Kent State Golden Flash. The pitching staff showcased its depth with four separate hurlers seeing action in each end of the doubleheader. In the first game, Greg Piehler and Steve Blucher each tossed two scoreless innings with Piehler striking out two and picking off a base runner. Offensively, Penn State was led by Andrew Criner, who went 3-3 with two RBI and 2 stolen bases. 3B Kris Park went 2-4 with a pair of RBI, and 1B Ryan Keefer also went 2-4 with an RBI. C Brad Gaugh and RF Andy Georgeson each added a double and a run scored. Penn State took control of the game early, and the pitching staff threw up zeroes after the first inning. RHP Andrew Felix closed out Kent State with a scoreless 7th inning while striking out two.
PSBC 11 v. Kent St. 3
RHP Kyle Gilbert
Penn State jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when DH Kris Park sent a ringing two run triple off of the left center field wall. Kent State answered with two of their own in the bottom of the first, but starter Ben Kittka worked out of a jam by striking out two batters with runners on second and third to keep the game tied at 2. RHP Kyle Gilbert settled things down by striking out 3 in two impressive innings of work. Offensively, Penn State remained patient and broke the game open in the later innings. Park finished the game with 3 RBI, and SS Steve Brouwers went 2-2 with a pair of RBI and two walks. CF Andrew Criner stayed hot going 2-4 with an RBI, and 1B Rob Slauch went 2-4 including a perfectly placed bunt single.