Ace Goebler recaptures form against C.W. Post

By DONNIE COLLINS
Collegian Staff Writer

Last weekend, Dan Goebler didn't look very much like the ace of a pitching staff.

In fact, he didn't come close to resembling the premier starting pitcher for a Penn State baseball team that had been carried to that point of the season on the shoulders of its hurlers.

In a horrid start March 20 against William & Mary, Goebler allowed eight runs and eight hits in just five innings of work. Ten of the 25 hitters Goebler faced reached base safely, as the right-hander's ERA ballooned to 5.70.

With the preseason schedule progressing and the challenging portion of the Nittany Lions' Big Ten slate fast approaching, Goebler knew he'd have to improve.

Saturday, just seven days after his worst start this season, he produced his best.

In front of 622 fans at Beaver Field, Goebler tossed a complete-game seven-hitter in the opening game of a twin bill to lead the Lions to a 9-1 slaughtering of C.W. Post. The Lions followed that victory with a 7-2 triumph in the second game. The Pioneers rallied to win the final game of the series, 15-11, Sunday.

"It was a definite boost, especially with the Big Ten coming up this week," Goebler said. "I got a little bit of the confidence back that I lost against William & Mary."

Goebler (3-3, 4.86 ERA) was working on a five-hit shutout until the seventh inning, when C.W. Post loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batsman with nobody out. Facing his first serious jam of the game, Goebler stepped up as only a staff ace can. He forced leadoff hitter Mike Lynch to ground into a double play, and designated hitter Storm Kirschenbaum ended the game by lining a pitch into the glove of Penn State shortstop John Richmond.

The performance was more of a workmanlike effort for the New Freedom native. Without great velocity on his fastball, Goebler relied mainly on off-speed pitches and good movement on his fastball to get big outs.

Still, unlike during his exploits against William & Mary, Goebler said he had Lady Luck on his side against the Pioneers.

"William & Mary might have been a little better hitting team (than C.W. Post), but I didn't get a lot of breaks to go my way (against William & Mary)," Goebler said. "I got a lot of breaks today."

Goebler's effort, in which he threw 104 pitches and was never in serious trouble until the seventh inning, was just the performance Penn State manager Joe Hindelang was hoping for from his starter.

And he got it, Hindelang said, at the best possible time.

"You're preparing now for one of your most important seven weekends coming up," Hindelang said. "I want Dan Goebler to pitch like a No. 1 pitcher. I want Dan McCall to pitch like a No. 2 guy, and I want Pete Yodis to pitch like a No. 3 in the series."

For Goebler, such titles mean little.

It's making the most of his opportunities that is more important than being considered the ace of the Penn State pitching staff.

"I'm glad it's me, but honestly, I don't worry about that," Goebler said. "When they want me to pitch, I'll go out there. If I'm the ace, that's great."

• Sluggers win two of three vs. C.W. Post