Wager making mark for sluggers out of bullpen

By DONNIE COLLINS
Collegian Staff Writer

Andy Wager has never been the safest bet to produce with a baseball bat in his hands.

Ever since his days at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, N.C., Wager was regarded more for his work on the pitcher's mound than for his exploits in the batter's box.

The right-handed reliever for the Penn State baseball team rarely, if ever, even takes batting practice.

But when Nittany Lions coach Joe Hindelang pinch hit for starting catcher Joe Puliafico in the second of a three-game set against William & Mary this past weekend in Williamsburg, Va., it caused a potential problem for the team's resurgent offense. After moving designated hitter Chris Netwall into the catcher position, Hindelang knew his pitcher, whomever that would be at the time, would have to hit for himself the next time through the order.

That man would prove to be Wager.

In the seventh inning, Wager grabbed a bat and advanced to home plate. The senior, whose 40 previous appearances in a Penn State uniform all came as a pitcher, gazed at the pair of base runners that awaited his result.

With the count standing at 2-2, Wager dug in deeper. Tribe pitcher Robert Jones fired a fastball, and Wager did what any overmatched hitter looks to do. He took it the other way. Wager lined a single over the head of William & Mary second baseman Brendan Harris scoring Shawn Fagan from second and Chris Wright from third, and gave Penn State the 5-1 lead by which it eventually went on to win.

"No batting practice, no hits, and he does a great job," Hindelang said. "The only thing he needs is a date with Meg Ryan."

Wager's contributions didn't begin, or end, with that hit. Pitching the final two innings Sunday of the Lions' second game, which was delayed after five innings due to darkness Saturday night, Wager stymied the Tribe's potent offense. He didn't allow a hit to any of the eight batters he faced en route to his first save this season and the third of his career.

Later that day, with Penn State leading 5-2 after the fourth inning of the final game of the series, Hindelang didn't hesitate to call on Wager yet again.

The results were strikingly similar. Wager was nearly untouchable over the final five innings of Penn State's 7-2 win, shutting out the Tribe on a mere two hits and a walk. He struck out seven. If there was any worry at all for Hindelang, it was that Wager threw 93 total pitches in his two appearances Sunday, the most in his five-year career with the Lions.

"Throwing a lot last week helped with that," Wager said. "It wasn't anything that I was not used to."

The early part of this young season has provided a turnaround for Wager. His career record heading into the season stood at an impressive 4-0, but his 8.64 ERA has always been a point of concern. Despite picking up the first loss of his career March 12 against Creighton, Wager has been one of Hindelang's most reliable options out of the bullpen this season, garnering a stingy 1.45 ERA in nine appearances.

"He's improved each year. But this year, he's taken his game to another level," Hindelang said. "By Wager giving us two innings (in the second game), it was big. He didn't surprise me with two innings. But he certainly surprised us all by going five (in the final game).

"We could never have won without his performance."

The popular odds seem to indicate Wager will be a familiar face on the hill for the Lions during the middle to late innings as the season progresses. But as for a chance at proving his knack for coming up with the big hit again, Wager would just as soon leave that job to the experts.

"It felt great," Wager admitted. "But it's probably better off if it doesn't happen again."