He waited a long time for this hit.

Matt Harter had driven in one run in the month of April prior to yesterday's game with James Madison. In the first game against the Dukes with the score tied at two in the sixth inning, Harter stepped to the plate and smoked a single back up the middle, scoring Adam Warchal.

It was the game-winning run.

Harter said that he has struggled with the bat recently and that this was very important for him.

"It wasn't just with batting runs in," Harter said.

"It's been batting period. I have tried not to think about it, and not to do anything different." Harter drove in a run against Michigan last Friday in the Nittany Lions' victory.

Before Michigan, Harter's last RBI came in the Big Ten opening series against Purdue. In the final game with the Boilermakers on March 30, Harter exploded with four RBIs.

The sixth inning started with a pinch-hit single to left field by utility player Warchal.

He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Willie Melendez.

After Lance Thompson flied out to left field, Harter walked into the batter's box and played the role of the hero.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said Harter's at-bat in the sixth inning of the first game was a clutch hit.

"He really stung the ball," Hindelang said. "That was huge."

If Harter's bat was huge, then his glove was enormous for the Lions in the final two innings. Harter threw out James Madison's Matt Deuchler in the top of the sixth inning when he was trying to advance into scoring position with two outs.

In the top of the seventh inning, Mike Butia singled and he too attempted to get into scoring position by stealing second base, but like Deuchler, Butia was thrown out.

Harter pumped before throwing to second base, and Butia appeared to the Dukes' players to be safe, and even Harter questioned whether he got him or not.

"Coach Hindelang told us that they liked to run a lot," Harter said.

"And we might have got gifted on the second one. But Mike [DeRenzo] said he tagged him before he got to the base."

Harter said that he delayed before throwing because he wasn't sure if Butia was stealing, because he was 15 feet off the base when he looked up.

"He must have delayed steal or had a terrible jump," Harter said. "I wasn't 100 percent sure he was running. I've been taught to throw to the bag, but wasn't sure he was going."

One hit, coupled with great defense, might be all it took to get Harter out of his slump.