The Official Site of The Penn State Baseball Club
2010 PSBC Spring Break
PSBC - 0 v. Illinois St. - 3
RHP Weston Hillegas
The PSBC opened its season at the NCBA Spring Training Showcase in Plant City, Florida against the ISU Redbirds. Senior RHP Weston Hillegas led the Lions on the hill needing only 89 pitches to complete 6 innings. He allowed only 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. The defense played flawlessly committing no errors and turning in a 1-6-3 double play. The Penn State offense was led by Andrew Criner’s 3-3 day at the plate. He also added a stolen base. SS Steve Brouwers went 2-4 with a double, and DH Jesse Zahoran added a double as well. But the day belonged to ISU starter Austin Augustyniak. Despite allowing 7 hits and 5 walks, he worked out of trouble all day as Penn State left 11 men on base and had a runner thrown out at home plate. The Lions loaded the bases with two outs in the last inning but Augustyniak finished his 125 pitch complete game by inducing a pop out to end the game. It was a clean, well played ball game, and the PSBC tips its cap to the ISU hurler.
Michigan St. 8 v. PSBC 11
3B Kris Park
Penn State shook off a disappointing shutout loss earlier in the day by jumping up big in the second inning of this first ever matchup between the Big Ten schools. After plating one run in the first, the PSBC batted around in a second inning highlighted by multi RBI triples by SS Craig Price and CF Andrew Criner. 3B Kris Park later added a triple and scored. 1B Rob Slauch went 2-3 on the day. The Lions showed good patience drawing 7 free passes on the day. On the hill, starting RHP Kyle Gilbert battled the flu and a bout of wildness to get through 4 innings with a six run lead. Freshman RHP Ryan Keefer came in and fell victim to some bad infield hops, but he held it together and closed out with 3 effective innings. It wasn’t the crispest contest ever played, but Penn State did enough to win and held off their Big Ten rival to salvage a split of day 1 of the showcase.
Ferris St. 6 v. PSBC 7
2B Jason Freeman
Making his first collegiate start, RHP Andrew Felix worked through a tough first inning and was aided by a stellar 9-4-5 putout by the PSBC defense. He settled in to work 6 innings giving up 7 hits and walking three. Felix kept Penn State in the game, and his effort was rewarded when the Lions came to bat down 2 entering the top half of the 7th inning. After a flyout started the inning, LF Andy Georgeson reached on a base hit, and pinch hitter Kris Park lashed a run scoring double down the left field line. RF Wyatt Thompson followed with a run scoring double and took third on Andrew Criner’s long fly ball to center. With the winning run in scoring position, 2B Jason Freeman launched Penn State’s third double of the inning into the left centerfield gap scoring Thompson and giving Penn State its first lead of the day. LHP Eric Soring worked a tidy bottom of the 7th striking out two and saving Felix’s first career win. It was a great comeback win to start the second day of competition for the PSBC.
PSBC 5 v. Pitt 2
RHP Ben Kittka
An early season matchup between familiar conference foes proved to be one of the most compelling games of the week in Plant City. RHP Ben Kittka got the nod for his first NCBA D1 start. The back and forth affair was closely contested from the first pitch. LF Eric Soring went 2-4 on the day. 1B Rob Slauch went 2-3 with a triple and scored a run. CF Andrew Criner continued his torrid streak going 3-3 with a double and 3 RBIs. 2B Dan Norris put down an excellent bunt for a base hit and stole a base. But the day belonged to Kittka as he went the distance scattering 5 hits, walking only one and striking out 4. Catcher Brad Gaugh threw out a runner attempting to steal 2nd base. It was an excellent game between two teams that will see a lot of each during the 2010 season.
PSBC 11 v. Bowling Green 4
RHP Greg Piehler
After two days of close ball games, Penn State was able to control the tempo early against the Falcons and allow their starting pitcher to go to work throwing strikes. 2B Jason Freeman went 3-4 with a pair of doubles. 3B Kris Park went 3-5 with a double, and LF Eric Soring went 2-5 with a double. The offensive standout for the PSBC was Ryan Keefer, getting his first start in the field at 1B. Keefer went 4-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBI’s. Freshman RHP Greg Piehler, also making his first career start, pounded the strike zone early and often, striking out 6 in the game and walking only one. He cruised through 4 innings, and though he was victimized by consecutive flares in the 5th, he persevered to finish what he started and earn his first career win.
Minnesota St - Mankato 1 v. PSBC 8
LHP Steve Blucher
Penn State finished its week with a workmanlike effort against MSUM. 2B Dan Norris and SS Steve Brouwers each went 2-4 with a double. LF Eric Soring collected three hits, including a triple, to knock in a pair of runs. 3B Craig Price and CF Andrew Criner each added two hits, and 1B Ryan Keefer finished his big day by belting the only PSBC home run of the week to deep right center field. Sophomore LHP Steve Blucher was effective through 5 innings. He struck out 3, walked one, and started a double play while giving up 5 hits and one run. Freshman RHP Evan Dixon was impressive in relief striking out 3 in two scoreless frames. FINAL PSBC 8 – MSUM 1