Playing freshmen is an adventure, but last night it turned out to be a fruitful endeavor for the Penn State baseball team.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with driving rain that would later turn into April snow, freshman second baseman Louie Picconi was set to lead off the inning, hitless on the day and still zeros for his entire upstart career. The Nittany Lion dugout was anxious as Kent State still held a one-run lead.

But with a slap over the infield, dropping in front of center fielder Jared Bartholomew, Picconi's first collegiate hit got gears turning. Suddenly, runners began to move, and the order would bat around, as Picconi would step to the plate once more after his team had put up six runs on the board at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

"The whole dugout changed," Penn State head coach Robbie Wine said. "That was momentum. We started with a base hit. I don't know how our next guy got on; we bunted him over, and then it started rolling. That is how things happen."

The Lions went on to win, and much of the credit was doled out to Picconi, who raised his batting average to .182 with a 1-for-2 outing, scoring two runs.

During his second at-bat of the inning, Picconi was served a plunking by Kent State pitcher Jason Seelman on a hit-by-pitch. Still finishing up his second career start in a snowstorm, was what the freshman had been waiting for.

"I'm just trying to go out there, have a good at-bat and spark the team a little bit," Picconi said.

"I'm glad I got the job done, help the team out, help everyone out."

Picconi, who has had to wait his turn behind senior second baseman Matt Cavagnaro and junior shortstop/pitcher Scott Gaffney, served his role in two double plays and had a couple more solo putouts, one which involved snatching a less-than-routine infield liner.

"I've been waiting to get these young guys in there," Wine said, "see what they can do and give them an opportunity."

Another freshman, pitcher John Karr, proved to be the staff ace among those deemed "effectively wild." He has yet to yield a hit during collegiate career after five and third innings of work. Of last night's 45 pitches, 23 of those registered as strikes.

Those 22 balls hit an array of locations for junior catcher Joe Blackburn. There was a large sampling of baseballs skipping in the dirt and into the chest protector, just as often as Blackburn had to snare a few out of the air.

One of those errant pitches found Golden Eagle Anthony Gallas' head. Simply put, Karr "did his job," Wine said, telling him to "just keep getting better. Every time you get a chance, we'll be patient with you."

Patience is a necessary virtue when it comes to developing freshmen. And Blackburn, who is sure to have a few bruises in the morning after taking Karr's beating, was extremely happy with his young arm's performance.

"It's an adventure, but it's fun," Blackburn said. "It's another situation like Louie. He's out there trying to hit his spots."