Baseball

Hello, it's Brendan Shorts from a very sunny Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as the Penn State baseball team takes on La Salle in about a half-hour.

Let's get the lineups:

La Salle

1. John Malloy CF

2. Justin Handler 3B

3. John Rickards 2B

4. TJ Chism 1B

5. RJ Hollinshead LF

6. Mike Dertouzos C

7. Kevin Jones RF

8. Chris Crawford DH

9. Brian Meagher SS

Pitching for La Salle: Christian Schulz (1-1, 6.95)

For Penn State:

1. Wes Borden 3B

2. Landon Nakata 2B

3. Joe Blackburn DH

4. Rob Yodice C

5. Brian Ernst CF

6. Cory Wine 1B

7. Rick Marlin RF

8. Ryan Boonie LF

9. Lou Picconi SS

Pitching for Penn State is TJ Macy (0-1, 4.50)

The groundscrew is still redding up the field so we'll be back when baseball is played.

Top One

The first batter for La Salle, Malloy, takes Macy's first pitch and drives it deep to right but Marlin gets it on the warning track.

Handler grounds to short but Picconi bobbles it, he's charged with an error.

Rickards bounces to Wine who gets the force out at second.

Not a whole lot of people here, but someone yelled pretty loudly at TJ Chism as Macy throws it past Wine for the second error of the inning.

Chism flies out to Boonie to end the inning as Travis wonders if La Salle is using "steel bats".

End of .5 innings, no score

Bottom One

Schulz takes the hill and during warm-ups he showed the weirdest delivery I've ever seen. It's looks as the though the baseball weighs about 35 pounds when he leans back and slowly lifts his arm.

That delivery hasn't been very effective though. The college crowd, which is very loud, reminds Schulz that the goal is to get the ball over the plate. Borden extends his hitting streak to 10 games with a single to the right side.

I must say this is the best heckling from the Penn State crowd this year, it's coming non-stop and from multiple voices.

Unlike Sunday, there aren't any mullets to be found. An Indiana fan or parent had a mullet that would make Greene County proud.

The crowd is displeased with Schulz's repeated throws to first, Travis thinks we're at a Phillies game.

There's a rumor that elephants will be arriving at the ballpark -- everyone is on elephant watch. Apparently, the circus is town.

Nakata pops out to second.

Borden steals second with Blackburn up.

Blackburn lines one over the center fielders head, Borden scores. He had a sure triple but fell 20 feet past second. So a runner on second for Saturday's hero Rob Yodice.

More heckling with fans chanting "Christian, Christian" must be Phillies fans with practice from heckling Daryll Strawberry.

Yodice gets plunked as the La Salle bullpen gets ready.

Blackburn now tries to get in Schulz's head as he literally dances on the basepath.

Blackburn steals third without a throw giving him his sixth steal of the year.

Schulz gets out of the inning after a double play that barely beat Brian Ernst at first.

1-0 Penn State after one

Top two

Macy strikes out Hollinshed on a nice pitch. One down.

Now the fans make fun of Dertouzos' height, they keep chanting "5-foot-9"

Another K by Macy.

Macy plunks Jones

Macy gets Crawford for the final out but everyone in the press box was pulling their binoculars to watch the elephants cross College Ave.

Done with 1.5, 1-0 Penn State

Bottom Two

Wine walks on five pitches.

Marlin lines the pitch down the line, two on for Boonie.

Boonie lays down a beautiful bunt that deadens in front of the plate, Wine and Marlin advance.

Picconi sends it past the first baseman for a two-RBI double. Schulz hasn't been hit very hard, but his control has dug a hole for him.

Borden slowly grounds it to third for the second out.

Nakata also grounds to third to end the inning.

3-0 after 2.

Top Three

Being the hard-hitting reporter I am, I just asked the control booth what Rick Marlin's batting music is, a pressing issue, I know. It is not a Zeppelin song, like I thought, it's Lenny Kravitz. I'm done.

After Meagher popped out to Picconi, Mattoy lines a ball that Picconi catches, but the ball drops out of his glove. It's ruled a hit, I still maintain it was an error. That's La Salle's first hit of the game.

The scoreboard says Rickards is up now, which is true. Our scorebook has been messed up.

Done with 2.5, still 3-0

Bottom three

Blackburn, who is not wearing his lacrosse elbow pad on his arm, draws a leadoff walk.

Yodice grounds to first and the first baseman tags the bag and throws to second, Joe "Willie Mays Hayes" Blackburn was already sliding when the throw was made.

The most important news has come from cameraman Matt Carracappa -- 1-0 Caps.

Ernst goes to the gap in right, Jones dives but the ball eludes him, double brings in Blackburn, 4-0.

Ernst swipes his second bag of the game -- this time third base -- Wine drives him in with a sac fly however, Malloy makes a stronngggg throw to make it close. 5-0 PSU

Penn State is hitting the ball hard off of Schulz. Marlin hits a hard one to center, but Malloy is there.

The fans harass Schulz about his ERA, according to said fans, its 15.00

Through three, 5-0 Penn State

Top Four

John Karr, a fellow yinzer like myself, comes into to relieve Macy.

Macy's line: 3 IP, 1 H (I still think it was an error), 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

First foul ball over the roof, unforunately no sound clips of broken glass or a cow mooing.

Chism walks and Karr can't find the strike zone as Paul Hawkins lightly throws in the pen.

Karr gets two strikes on Hollinshead after Karr fell behind 2-0.

Another questionable call by the infield umpire, Picconi to Nakata was good, but the umpire ruled Nakata's relay to Wine was late. The fans respectfully, of course, disagree.

Well, that is a bummer, Flyers tie it up on a goal by Scottie (My roommates and I have created a X-rated version of his last name that can't be printed)

Karr strikes out Dertouzos and Yodice throws down to Wine to pick off Hollinshead.

5-0 Penn State

Bottom Four

New pitcher for LaSalle, Shane Frangiosa, he of the 7.15 ERA. This is each LaSalle pitchers ERA: 4.30, 5.77, 6.81, 5.28, 6.95, 7.47, 9.00, 9.24, 10.12, 10.38, 12.27, and 14.14. It's the fourth inning and its only going to get worse.

Boonie lines a pitch to left and hustles to second for a double.

Picconi drives Boonie in with a longgg single. 6-0 Penn State

Frangiosa balks Picconi to second, La Salle's coach Mike Lake comes out for an explanation. The Cure's Boys Dont Cry.

Picconi goes to third on Nakata's 6-4-3 groundout. The shortstop thought he caught the ball -- he didn't -- so he threw to second for a phantom mythical out then finally got it over to first for a lone out.

The Penn State fans replaced the charge chant with "Shane" in honor of La Salle's pitcher. Blackburn walks on four pitches.

Yodice grounds to second but Penn State has scored in every inning so far.

6-0 Penn State

Top Five

Karr gets Jones to ground to first on the first pitch.

Crawford steps up and the fans chant "one-seven-one", Crawford's batting average is .171.

Bottom Five

We just had the dizzy bat competiton, not sure who won, but more offense is likely to come.

Ernst lines a single into right.

Wine reaches first on a fielders choice, yes, it feels like a 6-0 game against a 9-29 team.

Marlin tries his best to knock out the voice of the Nittany Lions, Steve Jones, one foul just under the press box, one over, now Marlin strikes out.

Boonie flies to center

5 down, 6-0 PSU

Top Six

Paul Hawkins comes in to relieve Karr.

First pitch swinging, Malloy flies to deep center.

Nakata fields the second out.

Another fly-out to Ernst to end the inning.

6-0 through 5.5

Bottom Six

Borden lays a nice bunt single.

Another stolen base for Borden, that's three, giving him 10 on the year. Passed ball moves Borden to third. Fine fundamentals shown by this Division I baseball team today.

Nakata walks, against new pitcher, Sean Kennedy, he of the 9.00 ERA

Blackburn walks. Loaded bases.

Yodice drives in Borden with a sac fly. More fine fundamentals shown by the Explorers as the right fielder and second baseman collide making the catch, though the right fielder holds on to the ball.

Ernst strikes out to end the inning.

7-0 after six.

Top Seven

Hawkins drills Chism to put the leadoff man on.

Finally, the real first hit of the game as Canafarotta gets one by Borden, who was playing in.

Hawkins hits another batter as the bases are loaded.

Hawkins helps himself with a 1-2-3 double play, two down.

Bloop single drops in, scores a pair. 7-2 Penn State.

The Caps tie it up, fantastic.

A walk to Meagher extends this innings as pitching coach Jason Bell comes out for a conversation with Hawkins and Yodice.

Bottom Seven

Boonie singles with two outs as Jack Greenberg strikes out while hitting for Picconi.

7-2 after seven

Top eight

Scott Kelley into pitch, Nakata goes to short, Borden to second, Greenberg to third, and Grant Youngblood plays center.

Kelley struck out Rickards looking but then walks Chism with one out. Comments

Basketball: Men's

The field for this year's Big Ten/ACC challenge is set, and Penn State will face a familiar opponent in Georgia Tech. The game will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 3, but no time has been announced yet.

The Nittany Lions faced the Yellow Jackets in this event back in 2006, and lost 77-73. Georgia Tech finished this season 15-17 overall, and ninth in the ACC with a 7-9 conference record. On the surface, a pretty even matchup for the Lions, however, the Yellow Jackets will lose their top two scorers in Anthony Morrow and Jeremis Smith.

The Big Ten has never won the Big Ten/ACC challenge, and Penn State's win over Virginia Tech this year was only the program's second win in the event.

Some other intriguing matchups will be Wisconsin at Virginia Tech, Duke at Purdue and North Carolina at Michigan State, which will be played at Ford Field.

-Steve Comments

Baseball

Good afternoon readers and welcome to the final match between the Penn State Nittany Lions, and the Michigan Wolverines. I'm Brian Eller and I'll be taking you through today's game as the visiting Wolverines look to complete a four game sweep of the Lions. First pitch is just ten minutes away, so let's take a look at the starting lineups...

Michigan-

CF, Kevin Cislo

LF, Derek VanBuskirk

C, Nate Recknagel

DH, Zach Putnam

3B, Adam Abraham

SS, Jason Christian

RF, Alan Oaks

1B, Mike Dufek

2B, Leif Mahler

Penn State-

CF, Brian Ernst

2B, Landon Nakata

3B, Rob Yodice

C, Joe Blackburn

1B, Cory Wine

DH, Scott Kelley

RF, Rick Marlin

LF, Ryan Boonie

SS, Lou Picconi

On the mound for Michigan will be Travis Smith. The right-hander is making his first start this season. The Lions will send Ryan Stobart. Stobart is 0-2 in three starts this season, with a 5.00 ERA, and 18 strikeouts.

Kevin Cislo led off for the Wolverines. After looking at Stobart's first two pitches, Cislo chopped a fastball right to Landon Nakata. An easy scoop and toss for the Lions to get the first out.

A quick top of the first inning for Stobart, as after getting Cislo to groundout, the next two batters suffered the same fate with grounders to shortstop Lou Picconi.

Bottom of the first, Penn State 3, Michigan 0

Well folks, I didn't think I would have to tell you Michigan has already brought in a reliever. Wolverine starter Travis Smith allowed three runs, two hits, and four walks. The bases are loaded still with two outs, and shortstop Lou Picconi headed to the plate. The Lions have gone through the entire order.

Brian Ernst led things off with a single to left field, and later scored off of a Cory Wine double. From there the onslaught was on, as four of the next five batters walked. Shortstop Lou Picconi ended the threat for the Lions with a flyout to right field. Comments

Baseball

Good mid-afternoon, it's Collegian baseball reporter Brendan Shorts live from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. It's the second game of a doubleheader, Penn State lost the ultimate pitcher's dual in game one, 1-0. Michigan and Penn State combined for one run and six hits.

We're about 10 minutes or so from beginning the second game.

Let's get the lineups.

For Michigan

1. CF Kevin Cislo

2. LF Derek VanBuskirk

3. 1B Nate Recknagel

4. DH Zach Putnam

5. 3B Adam Abraham

6. RF Alan Oaks

7. SS Jason Christian

8. C Chris Berset

9. 2B Leif Mahler

Pitching: LHP Mike Wilson, he of the 9.47 ERA.

Penn State:

1. CF Brian Ernst

2. 2B Landon Nakata

3. C Rob Yodice

4. DH Joe Blackburn

5. 1B Cory Wine

6. RF Rick Marlin

7. LF Ryan Boonie

8. SS Lou Picconi

9. 3B Wes Borden

Pitching for the Lions, LHP Mike Lorentson.

Out in right field, a banner says "Wine's Vineyard," Travis, through his hunting binoculars, says the banner says "Locally Grown since 2008."

We're under way.

After about four pitches (I was watching Lorentson through the binoculars), Cislo drops one into left. Michigan now needs one more hit to equal its offense in the first game.

We have our best crowd here so far this season. In the first game, there were hecklers behind the Michigan dugout, though they are nowhere to be seen here in the second game.

Quick game: One of the hecklers was wearing a baseball hat, guess which team it was?

You win. It was a Philadelphia Phillies hat.

Cislo runs himself into an out with a 1-3-6-3 pickoff by Lorentson, VanBuskirk quickly strikes out.

Nate Recknagel, who is slugging .735, lines a single into right. If it weren't for Recknagel, Michigan probably would never score any runs.

Lorentson gives up three straight singles, leading to a Wolverine run. 1-0 University of stealing West Virginia's coaches.

Lorentson gets Oaks to groundout. General Studies majors 1, Penn State 0

Bottom One

Ernst starts off by grounding to bring up Nakata, who walks.

In the press box, it's finally nice in terms of temperature, but outside 'tis a bit nippy aht.

Nakata was running on the play when Yodice flies to left, resulting in the easiest double play in baseball.

End of one, 1-0 the school who has no quarterbacks for this season.

Top two

Christian sneaks one through the right side, Michigan has five hits, or 2.5 times the number of hits it had in game one.

Berset moves Christian up with the bunt. Now comes up Leif Mahler. I bet he was named after famed singer and actor, Leif Garrett. I'd probably disown my parents if I we're named Leif, but I digress.

Leif softly lines it to Nakata, followed by Cislo lining it to Picconi who made a fine leaping catch for the third out.

Rich Rodriguez's lawyer 1, Penn State 0.

For all the readers to cringe, I'll bring you this quote from Rodriguez's lawyer.

"It's like back before the Civil War when slaves had the right to buy their freedom. A penalty of $4 million is almost like a slave from Africa trying to buy his freedom in America,"

Bottom second

After Blackburn flies to right, Wine fouls a ball off the window off of the press box. The only people affected were those in the Public Address/Scoreboard box. Wine flies to center.

Marlin goes down swinging to end the inning.

Choking in the biggest game of your life leads Penn State, 1-0.

Top three

As someone who cheers for the Mountaineers, I was only referring to the former head coach of WVU when saying "choking in the biggest game of your life."

Michigan has runners on the corners after a double and single, it now has seven hits but only one run.

Putnam flies out to Boonie, but VanBuskirk scores, 2-0. Abraham singles one just past Picconi.

Paul Cianciolo up in the pen as pitching coach Jason Bell has a discussion with Lorentson.

Lorentson walks Oaks to load the bases, this is the complete opposite of the game that ended about an hour ago.

Jason Christian is sick of seeing Michigan bat. He swings and misses at two pitches that looked out of the zone but takes a pitch that just missed. He proceeds to swing at a pitch in the dirt for srtike three.

Rick Marlin makes a nice diving catch to kill Michigan's inning. Eight hits for Michigan, none for Penn State.

"A decline in Family Values" leads Penn State, 2-0.

Bottom three

Ryan Boonie breaks up Wilson's no-hitter with a single. That's right, I noted that a no-hitter was broken up in the third inning, but we're only playing seven today.

Picconi moves Boonie up with a sac bunt to bring up Wes Borden, who would probably be my roommate's favorite player as he comes to bat with some Lil' Wayne.

Abraham makes a diving play to take away a base hit from Borden, two down.

Abraham makes another fine play to retire Ernst.

2-0 Michigan after three.

Top Four

Paul Cianciolo now comes in to relieve Lorentson with two on.

A bunt puts runners on second and third.

Smart move by Penn State to intentionally walk Recknagel.

Bases loaded for Putnam who fouls one off the roof of the press box twice. Putnam walks to drive in a run.

Boonie makes a nice running catch on Abraham and holds Cislo at third, after throw to the plate.

Oaks drives in two, 5-0 Michigan.'

David Lutz comes in to stop the bleeding.

The hecklers are back.

Christian appears to walk, but is called out on a check-swing call, he's called out for the final out.

5-0 Michigan after three and a half.

Bottom Four

Penn State gets two runners on but Michigan pulls Wilson. He holds Penn State to one hit, despite having a 9.47 ERA. RoboBlackburn is up at the plate. He wears this gigantic, Bonds-like elbow pad, making him look like a robot, or something.

Blackburn crushes one to the 399 sign in center, driving in Nakata. Two runners in scoring position for Cory Wine.

Wine bloops it to shallow center, Yodice scores, RoboBlackburn to third, zero outs. The offensive juggernaut is coming alive.

Marlin walks, bases loaded, no outs for Boonie.

Boonie grounds into a double play, but the third Nittany Lion run crosses the plate, 5-3.

Inside the Dugout wants to come live to yinz from the world's worst college town, Oakland, on Wednesday. But Pitt moved the start time to 3, so we likely wont be there. Plus, it's Oakland, and as a Pittsburgh native, I know nothing good is in Oakland, unless you like narcotics and crime.

Picconi takes strike three. Inning over.

5-3 CoachStealers after four.

Top Five

Fifth inning stretch time here at MFALP. Lutz just retired the side, the members of the press were discussing the most dangerous cities in America, we came up with: South Bronx, N.Y., Harlem, Memphis, Camden, N.J., and Ballamer, where our friend Eller is as we type.

Bottom Five

The Final Four is on and we're treated to some of the finest local commercials on the local CBS station (WJAC? WWWW?), who cares. I thought I would never miss the Pittsburgh stations, but they make the Central Pa. stations look like high school TV.

Borden is retired, then Ernst is beaned on what looks the wrist.

Nakata, who has a .400 OBP before this game, has walked four of his five plate appearances in both games. He's the tying run at the plate with one out, but he's caught looking.

Yodice up with two outs.

He grounds out, two more innings here at the Med.

5-3 some university in an insignificant Midwestern state.

Top Six

Recknagel is Michigan's answer to Major League's Clue Haywood as he finally, after two foul balls to that area, blasts one into the picnic pavillion for a 6-3 lead.

SID Matt Beltz informs us that was only the second time a ball has been hit into the picnic pavillion.

Lutz gets the requesite three outs to end the inning, not a whole lot of people here as we go to the bottom of the sixth.

Bottom Six

Blackburn starts the inning off with a soft liner.

Quick inning after Marlin flies to left.

Done with six, 6-3 Michigan.

Top Seven

Oaks singles to start off the seventh.

A bunt moves him up, Leif's grounder puts him at third with two outs.

Bottom Seven

Boonie grounds out. 1 out

Grant Youngblood pinch-hits for Picconi and goes down swinging.

It's up to Borden who grounds to third to end it.

6-3 Michigan. Come back and join us tomorrow on Inside the Dugout at 1:05 p.m. Comments

Baseball

Gooooood evening everybody and welcome to tonight's match at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. I'm Brian Eller, and I'll be taking you through tonight's action as the Michigan Wolverines are in town to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions.

This is just the second Big Ten series for the Lions this season, and what a better time to host the top team in the conference. The Wolverines are a perfect 4-0 so far in Big Ten play, after a first weekend sweep against Iowa. Penn State is currently 2-2 after a trip to Columbus last weekend.

It looks like the rain has passed, and we're clear for sunshine. Too bad there's a guy in the right field bleachers doing what looks like a rain dance. Somebody should really punch him the face. I'll be back in a little while with the starting lineups, and the opening pitch for tonight's game.

Starting Lineups:

Michigan-

SS, Jason Christian

CF, Kevin Cislo

1B, Nate Recknagel

P, Zach Putnam

3B, Adam Abraham

LF, Derek VanBuskirk

RF, Alan Oaks

C, Chris Berset

2B, Leif Mahler

Penn State-

3B, Wes Borden

CF, Brian Ernst

DH, Rob Yodice

C, Joe Blackburn

1B, Cory Wine

RF, Rick Marlin

LF, Ryan Boonie

2B, Landon Nakata

SS, Lou Picconi

You know, a lot of the time I turn out to be a lot dumber than I think, but every once in a while a ray of light shines through, and I get something exactly right. In my preview for this game, I warned fans about Michigan's Nate Recknagel. The man is a beast ladies and gentlemen. And in the top of the first, he blasted his eighth homerun of the season off of PSU starter Seth Whitehill.

The Lion starter did redeem himself with a nice strike out to end the visting team's first trip to the plate. Penn State will send Borden, Ernst, and Yodice to the plate in the bottom of the first.

1-0 Michigan, top of the second

Well we are one inning through and Michigan has the early 1-0 lead, after Nate Recknagel blasted his eighth homerun of the season.

For Penn State, Seth Whitehill has seemed to calm down after a shaky start. His fastball seems to be catching the Wolverines off guard early.

His flamethrower must be his thing....like that guy on the subway who eats his own face.

After a quick top of the first the Lions come back to the plate. A few more people have started to trickle in, but I'm still depressed because the stadium is not full. I thought I was going to Camden Yards tomorrow

This just in, we've spotted the first camo jacket of the night. My eye passed right by it the first time, after all it is camo. Comments

Baseball

Buenos noches, I'm Brendan Shorts and I'll be guiding you through tonight's game. Bucknell made the short trip up from Lewisburg (wherever that is, I've never been).

The coaches and umpires are meeting right now, so let's do some lineups.

Bucknell (13-10-2) *They have two ties! In baseball! Ties!

1. Ben Yoder 2B

2. Dane Grandizio CF

3. Mark Angelo 1B

4. Jason Buursma LF

5. John Avanzino DH

6. Andrew Brouse RF

7. Zachary Brown C

8. Ed Rubbo 3B

9. Ben Allen SS

Pitching for Bucknell: RHP Doug Shribman

For Penn State

1. Wes Borden 3B

2. Brian Ernst CF

3. Rob Yodice C

4. Joe Blackburn DH

5. Cory Wine 1B

6. Rick Marlin RF

7. Ryan Boonie LF

8. Landon Nakata 2B

9. Lou Picconi SS

Pitching: LHP Calvin Grumley, who is making his first start.

Top 1st

After coming out to "Stranglehold" by Uncle Ted Nugent, Grumley gets Yoder to ground to second, an easy play for Nakata. Grandizio, obviously wanting to experience Route 45 again, flew out on his first pitch. Grumley then hit Angelo on the elbow.

The crowd is well, typical, for a midweek early April non-conference game. Unlike against Canisius, we can't count the number of fans in the stands right now.

The weather is tolerable, I guess.

Buursma gets a gift. He drilled a ball back up the middle that probably would have been fielded by either Nakata or Picconi. Instead, it drills the infield umpire and Bucknell has a rurnner in scoring position.

There have been many foul balls hit over the stadium, presumably into the parking lot outside. Fortunately, Eller picked me up, so there is no damage to my lovely 1989 pickup.

Grumley gets out of it with a grounder to short.

0-0 after a half inning.

Bottom 1st

Shribman, Bucknell's pitcher, has a Cy Young-like ERA of 16.88. Without surprise he walks the Nittany Lions first batter, Wes Borden on four pitches.

After a Brian Ernst groundout, Rob Yodice steps to the plate to a Notorious B.I.G. song. Collegian rap historian Travis Johnson tells me it's "Hypnotize." Dr. Johnson also notes that it is one of the coolest music videos ever. Oh yeah, Borden got a huge jump and stole third.

Yodice skies one to shallow left. If that was a Pittsburgh Pirate in left field, Borden scores. Instead Bucknell LF Buursma catches it, two down.

Interesting play here. Joe Blackburn, on first after a walk, is caught off of first base but produces a run-down which allows Borden to score and put Penn State up 1-0, after one.

Top two

Before I get any e-mails (doubtful, but play along) about if Lewisburg actually exists, just remember folks, I've never been to Philadelphia, Erie, amongst other Pennsylvania cities.

The radar gun shows 71 MPH on that Grumley pitch, but it looked like an Eephus pitch as Brouse Rock N' Jocks it, but it's a lazy grounder to second for the first out.

Bucknell has first and third with two outs, they also have two hits. Doug Shribman is pitching a no-hitter!

Ryan Boonie shows the speed that Eller showed in today's Collegian. He charged in and made a running catch to end the inning. Doug Shribman is pitching a no-hiiter!

Bottom two

If I'm not mistaken, Rick Marlin comes to bat with Zeppelin, the best song we've heard so far.

Two down.

But that didn't last long -- Boonie's batting music is "Song of the South" by Alabama. We're not sure why Boonie chose this song, he's a State College native, but it's something that the three fourth estate members will ask.

Doug Shribman is pitching a no-hitter, but has allowed three walks.

Four walks now for Shribman after Nakata reaches.

Picconi down swinging. 1-0 after two.

Top Three

I took the last regular Pepsi in the press box, so the third inning is off to a good start.

If the Spikes were playing right now, Grandizio would have killed a couple of young children. He's lined two pitches where the Spikes moon bounce usually is. Eller may need to be restrained, his O's are already down 3-0 (it's the first inning).

After an at-bat that was as long as the War of Austrian Succession, Grandizio flies to center.

Grumley gets his first K of the day with a new off-speed pitch on Angelo.

Bucknell now has three hits, and Doug Shribman is throwing a no-hitter.

Grumley holds the Bison scoreless through three. A couple guys are up in the PSU bullpen.

1-0 PSU after 2.5

Bottom three

He's a motivational speaker, he lives in a van down by river, and now he's a reliever for the Bison. Yes, Matt Foley has come in to replace Shribman, I'm not kidding, his name is Matt Foley.

"Well, that and a nickel'll get you a nice hot cup OF JACK-SQUAT!" Ernst gets Penn State's first hit of the game, a double off of Foley.

Eller is now complaining about the strike zone for the O's on GameTracker.

"Look at me, I'm throwing eggs! I'm the Eggman! Goo goo g'joob!" -- Foley doesn't get much help from his infield as first baseman Angelo makes an error.

"Muy cómico. Dios freakin' mío!" Blackburn drives it all the way to the warning track in left center, but Grandizio runs it down. Two down.

"Viva de Nueva York, ¡es Sábado Noche!" The amount of Spanish in this web log is unintentional, by the way. Wine walks, Marlin up with bags full of Lions.

"Now you kids are probably asking yourselves 'Hey Matt how can we get back on the right track!?" Marlin walks on four pitches, Penn State gets its second run. And shortly thereafter, its third run is scored on a wild pitch.

Boonie drives in two after right fielder Brouse lays out, and in fair territory, the ball hits off his glove. Penn State has exploded for five runs against Matt Foley here in the third.

"You kids are probably saying to yourself, 'Now, I'm gonna go out, and I'm gonna get the world by the tail and wrap it around pull it down and put it in my pocket!' Well, I'm here to tell you that you're probably gonna find out, as you go out there, that you're not gonna amount to JACK SQUAT!' You're gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese and living in a van down by the river!" -- Foley drills Nakata and now the Bucknell pitching coach is giving a motivational speech to Foley.

The motivational speech didn't work, Picconi drives it back up the middle, 6-0, Penn State.

Foley is out, now we have Andrew Clarke, who Wikipedia tells me was the Governor of Western Australia from 1846 to 1847. He gets Borden to fly out to end the inning.

And with the dulcet tones of Bob Errey in the background, we head to the fourth inning.

Top four

Paul Hawkins comes into relieve Grumley.

Soft liner to Picconi for the first out.

Hawkins gets more soft contact as Rubbo slowwwwwly rolls out to third.

Allen grounds out to the end the inning.

Van Halen to end the inning, finally good to hear the world's greatest band.

Bottom Four

Another line drive, this time off the bat of Ernst which is easily fielded by Yoder.

We can't tell from the press box, and we're too dumb to be meteorology majors, but the wind isn't blowing out at all, we believe. Yodice drove one to the centerfield wall, but Grandizio made the routine catch.

Blackburn flies out to end a quick inning.

It's time for "What song do you want to hear?'

Our choices:

My Chemical Romance -- Teenagers

Wham! - Wake me up before you go go

AC/DC - You shook me all night long

My choice: AC/DC

Eller: Wham!

Johnson: Nachos

Horan: My Chemical Romance

We'll make sure to update the Collegian web site when this breaking news is announced.

Top Five

David Lutz, the sidewinding lefty comes in for the fifth.

Lutz gives up back-to-back hits to start the inning.

Lutz gets Angelo looking for the first out, and the notice that Fergie isn't coming anymore hasn't reached the guy who plays the music here at MFALP. After the K, there was a sound clip of Fergie going "Tasty, tasty." That girl is so talented.

Beautiful running catch by Marlin to track dodwn a Buursma ball for the second out.

Avanzino can't check his swing and the Bison leave two men stranded. 6-0 after 4.5

Bottom five

Eller was right, it's Wham! that the long-named aforementioned contest.

Clarke strikes out Wine with a nasty breaking ball.

Marlin walks on four pitches.

Boonie pops out to second, game starting to be out after out.

Nakata singles. So Picconi can do some more damage with a runner on second.But strikes out. Done with five here at MFALP, 6-0 Penn State.

Top Six

After getting the first out, Lutz walks Brown.

It's getting colder and colder here in the press box as Lutz gets a 6-3 double play to end the inning.

5.5 done, fingers freezing off, 6-0 Penn State.

Bottom six

Borden reaches on an infield single. I must say that Eller is a sharp-dressed man tonight. He's got a blue shirt with a gold-blue tie. Because it is so cold, he's wearing a fancy long wool coat. Travis cleaned up good, too. He's got a gray vest over a blue dress shirt. Myself, I'm lazy. I have a striped sweater and jeans. But back to baseball, if you wanted fashion, you'd go to the fashion blog.

Borden gets thrown out at third after going from first to third after an infield single.

Another misplay by the Bison defense, an error on first baseman Angelo puts another runner on.

But Blackburn's 4-6-3 ends the inning.

Top Seven

Mike Pierce comes in and gets a quick out with Allen flied out to right.

Yoder is looking to the fences, as he took a hell-cut for a second strike, then beats out an infield single.

Grandizio reaches via a force out. With two down in the top of the 7th, this game is actually moving rather quickly.

Nakata makes a nice play going to his right but can't flip the ball to Picconi. A debate rages in the press box on whether it was an error or a hit, it looks to be a hit.

Scott Kelley replaces Pierce in the 7th, we're expecting a Paul Cianciolo sighting in the next couple of innings.

Kelley walked Buursma, who is one homer short of Bucknell's career record. We overheard Bucknell's SID saying that Buursma is also the Bison pitching ace.

Bucknell scores its first run of the evening, after a full-count walk to Avanzino.

In comes Cianciolo, who will have a story in tomorrow's Collegian.

Bases-loaded when Cianciolo comes in and he throws two quick strikes. He ends the jam with a grounder to short.

7TH Inning Stretch PSU 6 Bucknell 1

Bottom seven

Two quick outs as we come back late from the stretch.

Boonie got a good jump but was caught stealing at 2nd to end the inning.

Done with 7 still 6-1.

Top eight

Cianciolo still in. Paul Cianciolo now has doubled his hits allowed to four.

First and second, no out.

Controversial call there, it looked like Cianciolo got a double play, but the umpire ruled Allen safe at first.

Boonie takes an interesting route to make a catch in left, Bucknell scores again. Everyone in the press box is focusing on the Pens-Flyers game on the TV in here. Cianciolo allowed his first run of the season. Bucknell has made it a game now, 6-3, after a seeing-eye single goes under the glove of Picconi.

With runners going, Cianciolo's curveball nearly hits Buursma, so now two runners in scoring position with two outs here. Someone is up in the PSU pen, maybe Drew O'Neil. But it doesn't matter, Buursma strikes out on a nice off-speed pitch from Cianciolo.

7.5 through -- 6-3 PSU

Top eight

They just played a "Sweet Caroline" techno remix. Awful. Just awful.

Nakata draws the 875,231 walk of the game for the Lions.

New pitcher David Solan keeps throwing over to first, it's getting old. Picconi did show bunt on the first pitch, which caused the repeated throw-overs, but Solan gets Picconi to K.

Nakata finally steals second base and moves to third on a wild pitch. It's like two bunts but only giving up one run!!!!!!

The crowd is starting to dwindle, it is 9:15 on a Wednesday night, it's cold, and a new episode of South Park premieres in 45 minutes, so it's understandable.

The Pittsburgh Pirates must be donning the uniforms of Bucknell. Solan struck out Ernst, but the ball skipped past the catcher. Instead of tagging the runner coming home, Brown decided to throw to first to get the out. Ernst was safe. 7-3.

Bobby Jacobs, who replaced Yodice, gets plunked. There have a ton of hit batsmen in this game.

Blackburn, DHing, delivers with a single to right scoring one. 8-3.

That was the fourth strikeout in the inning. SID Matt Beltz believes that is the first time that has happened.

8-3, PSU, go to the ninth

Top Nine

Cianciolo in again, this will be his longest appearance of his career. His arm appears to be holding up, he got Avanzino to whiff for the first out of the final inning.

One more out here, as Cianciolo gets a grounder to third.

A walk delays the inevitable.

Cianciolo strikes out Austin Turban swinging to end this game.

8-3 Penn State, we're going downstairs.

Check the Collegian tomorrow for more on tonight's game. Comments