Strong pitching performances from the third and fourth starters is a key component in the formula for success in Big Ten baseball.

The Penn State baseball team has had consistent pitching from the back end of the rotation in the first two weeks, with one exception.

That exception was Aaron Tressler in this past weekend's second game against Ohio State, in which he gave up seven hits and six earned runs.

This effort comes one week after Tressler dominated the Boilermakers' hitters as he tossed a complete game, yielding only five hits and no earned runs.

Tressler struggled throughout the game with his control problems, as he walked five batters in 5 2/3 innings. His walks didn't come back to hurt him too much, as only one of the five scored for Ohio State, but Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang was critical of his starting pitcher.

"He didn't have good control," Hindelang said. "He struggled a lot with walks."

Tressler didn't feel that same as his coach.

"I think I had pretty good control," Tressler said.

"I just didn't want to give [Christian] Snavely anything to hit."

Tressler walked Snavely in his first two at-bats, including an intentional free pass the second time.

Tressler got into trouble when he wasn't able to close out innings. In the fourth inning he gave up a leadoff double, got the next two batters out, but then allowed the Buckeyes to score three runs.

The first run scored on a bloop single that dropped in between second baseman Mike DeRenzo and right fielder Derrick Barr.

The problem was compounded as Mike Rabin hit the next pitch over the field wall.

"Over Aaron's career he gets in trouble with two outs," Hindelang said. "I don't know how and when he's going to get over it. If we stop them from the three spot it's a tie game."

Hindelang said that Tressler needs to work on stopping the opponent from having the big inning.

"He has to learn when he's behind to stem the tide, shut the door not give them anymore," Hindelang said.

"He didn't do that today."

Base-running blunder

After blowing a 3-1 lead heading into the eighth inning of the Lions' 4-3 loss to the Buckeyes Friday night, the Lions had a chance in the bottom of the 10th. The Penn State bullpen surrendered a run in each of the final three innings.

With Penn State trailing 4-3, Wes Reohr led off with a single to left field. Pinch hitter Arin Gelletly hit a pop-up down the left-field line that fell fair.

Buckeyes third baseman Terry Pettorini picked up the ball and threw to second, retiring Reohr.

"The runner is supposed to go far enough off where if the ball falls in he can advance, but if it's caught he goes back," Hindelang said. "He was standing on first base."

Reohr didn't attempt to pass off the blame.

"It was my fault," Reohr said. "I should have been halfway or at a point where if he did drop it, I could have gotten to second, and if he caught it I could have gone back to first."

Hot-hitting Willie

It's not even close to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, or even Mike DeRenzo's 20-game hitting streak from last season, but Willie Melendez has a seven-game hitting streak.

Against Ohio State, Melendez went 5-for-12 with four runs scored.

During the streak Melendez is hitting .435 and has raised his overall average to .347.