Freshman Steve Snyder was in unusual surroundings during Saturday's game against Texas State.
The Penn State baseball team's regular center fielder warmed up his arm in the bullpen located in foul territory of right field in the Bobcat Baseball Stadium.
When the Nittany Lions (4-8) were retired in the top of the seventh inning, Snyder jogged out to the mound to pitch for the first time since early last season, when he was in high school.
Snyder, along with first baseman Joey DeBernardis, allowed no runs while pitching the seventh and eighth innings in Saturday's 15-6 loss to the Bobcats, after Penn State used eight pitchers the game before.
The two position players welcomed the opportunity to give the Lions' pitchers a rest after they played nine games in 10 days against tough competition.
"I was excited just to get out there and start throwing a little bit," DeBernardis said. "I was just trying to have fun with it, just trying to throw strikes and let the defense work."
When Lions pitching coach Jason Bell went to see DeBernardis play in high school, he said the current Lions first baseman pitched in that game. "DeBo" -- as his teammates and coaches call him -- said he pitched for much of his early playing days before focusing on being a position player as a senior in high school.
Snyder also enjoyed taking the mound before he came to Happy Valley, but he said he threw only a couple innings in high school because of arm problems. Despite those problems, Snyder was told he reached 90 mph with a pitch while consistently throwing 86 to 89 mph.
"I was a little bit nervous because I hadn't pitched in a while," Snyder said, "but I was excited. It was something new for this season."
Snyder and DeBernardis were effective, as they combined to strike out three batters in two innings of work.
Snyder threw all fastballs, while DeBernardis mixed in two curveballs to go with his heater. The sophomore first baseman said his first curve bounced in, while the second induced a groundball out.
Bell said the two makeshift pitchers did exactly what the coaching staff wanted. They took the mound and didn't worry about giving up runs while getting some much-needed outs for the team.
With both players having crucial roles in the Lions' defense, Bell said the coaches made sure they didn't do anything to hurt their arms, because they weren't conditioned to pitch.
After taking the mound with little notice, Bell said Snyder and DeBernardis demonstrated their willingness to do whatever it takes to support the team.
"They were willing to go out there and say, 'I'm going to take this for the team,' " Bell said. "They realized the situation we were in after a long week and a lot of pitchers used, and they took one for the team."
