Senior David Lutz has never started a game.
But, as a reliever, he has made more appearances than any other pitcher on the Penn State baseball team this season -- and could be on his way to making more than any Nittany Lion ever has.
Having already pitched in 14 of the team's 23 games this season, Lutz is on pace to make 32 appearances in just the regular season, which would break Matt Ogrodnik's record of 29 appearances in 2007.
Also, Lutz's 14 outings this year give him 63 for his career, good for sixth on Penn State's career appearances list, only 13 behind Jeff Emerich.
"If anyone can do it, it'd be Lutz," coach Robbie Wine said. "He's in the best shape of anyone, and he's got a strong arm. He's proven he can throw a lot of innings, and that's just a result of his hard work."
The key, Lutz said, is locating his pitches and trusting the defense to make plays, so he can keep his pitch count low.
And hitting his spots hasn't been a problem for him this year, as he leads the team in strikeouts and is one of only five Lion pitchers who has more strikeouts, 17, than walks, eight.
"Throwing strikes minimizes how many pitches you throw," Lutz said, "which allows you to throw again within a day or even throw a few days in a row if you need to. As a pitcher, it all comes down to just throwing strikes."
In his pursuit for team records, though, Lutz has already set a new personal record by going 7.2-straight innings without giving up a run, beating his previous best of seven scoreless innings tossed from March 28 to April 2, 2008.
And while that scoreless innings streak came to an end when he gave up three runs Wednesday to Kent State, allowing the Flashes to pull within two, freshman pitcher John Walter's confidence in Lutz didn't waiver.
"At first, I was a little worried," said Walter, whose first career win was on the line. "But then I just realized it was Lutz out there, and I have a lot of confidence in him. Once he settled down, I knew we were gonna come out of that game on top."
And they did.
Lutz retired the side in order in the ninth inning, preserving the win.
Though Lutz gave up three runs to Kent State, it was only the fourth time this season he had allowed the opponent to score, as he has posted scoreless outings in 10 of his 14 appearances.
Pitching on such a regular basis out of the bullpen has helped Lutz get into a rhythm, which he said has prepared him to pitch whenever his number is called.
"With any reliever that's just a dream," he said. "I enjoy it so much, to go into every game expecting to throw. It's just great and I really enjoy it."
