Nittany Lions Head to Caguas For Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge (Weekend Preview)
- bryanportney01
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
Penn State (29-24, 12-12 Big Ten in 2024) vs. Missouri (23-32, 9-21 SEC in 2024)
& Stetson (41-22, 20-10 ASUN in 2024) & UConn (35-26, 17-4 Big East in 2024)
Dates: February 14-16
Times (EST): 4:00 PM (Missouri), 10:00 AM (Stetson), 7:00 PM (UConn)
Location: Estadio Yldefonso Sola Morales (Caguas, PR)
Coverage
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Tiger Radio Network (Missouri) & Mixlr (UConn)
Live Stats/Pregame Lineups: StatBroadcast (for PSU games)
Storylines
Band of Brothers Reunite in State College
Outfielder Jesse Jaconski joined his brother Joe this offseason, coming to Penn State after playing at Harford CC last season. Righthander Carson Renner is back with his brother Chase this season after playing at Division II East Stroudsburg in 2024. (Source: Penn State Athletics)
Pimental Out for Season with Tommy John Surgery
Senior lefthander Javyn Pimental will miss the 2025 season for the Missouri Tigers after having to get Tommy John surgery. Pimental had the lowest earned run average for qualified Tiger pitchers in 2024 and was slated to be Missouri’s ace. (Source: Saturday Down South)
Returning to the Island
Stetson infielder Juan De La Cruz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, just a 38 minute drive from the site of this weekend’s games in Caguas. De La Cruz went 3-for-21 last season in 17 games and hopes to make more of an impact starting tomorrow. (Source: Baseball Reference)
With Experience Comes a Standard
Huskies head coach Jim Penders is heading into his 22nd season at the helm in Storrs, Connecticut. With their eyes on the prize, UConn looks to do something they have not done in 45 years: make it to the College World Series. (Source: CT Insider)
Numbers Tell The Story (2024 Stats)
Penn State | Missouri | Offense | Stetson | UConn |
.306 | .253 | Batting AVG | .289 | .272 |
.400 | .360 | On-Base Pct | .392 | .372 |
71 (1.34) | 57 (1.04) | Home Runs (per game) | 66 (1.05) | 87 (1.43) |
125-101-101 | 46-105-66 | Run Splits (Fri-Sat-Sun) | 110-120-84 | 78-109-60 |
Penn State | Missouri | Defense | Stetson | UConn |
6.64 | 5.80 | Earned Run Avg | 4.92 | 5.21 |
.285 | .266 | Opp Batting Avg | .259 | .263 |
357 (6.74) | 459 (8.35) | Strikeouts (per game) | 492 (7.81) | 541 (8.59) |
265 (5.00) | 220 (4.00) | Walks (per game) | 252 (4.00) | 248 (3.94) |
Penn State is 0-1 against Missouri, with the most recent meeting being a Missouri 3-2 win on June 16, 1952 at a neutral site. Penn State is 1-1 against Stetson, with the most recent meeting being a Stetson 5-4 home win. Penn State is 2-3 against UConn, with the most recent meeting being a UConn two-game sweep from March 11-12, 2008 at a neutral site.
Probable Starting Pitchers (2024 Stats)
Friday
RHP Mason Horwat, So. (4-1, 5.34 ERA) vs. LHP Ian Lohse, Gr. (0-4, 5.22 ERA)
Saturday
LHP Jonathan Gonzalez, R-Sr. (8-4, 4.13 ERA) [2023] vs. LHP Matt Morash, So. (2-0, 6.47 ERA)
Sunday
LHP Ryan DeSanto, Jr. (4-2, 3.72 ERA) [St. Joseph’s] vs. RHP Ben Schild, So. (3-0, 4.71 ERA)
Top Hitters/Runners (2024 Stats)
Penn State (7.81|6.73|7.77 Runs per Game)
3B Bryce Molinaro, R-So. (.329|.409|.560, 11 hr, 45 rbi)
CF Paxton Kling, Jr. (.222|.409|.317, 1 hr, 21 rbi, 8 sb) [LSU]
1B/OF Cole Wagner. Sr. (.200|.292|.367, 6 hr, 23 rbi) [2023 Georgia]
Missouri (3.07|6.56|8.25 Runs per Game)
1B/CF Jackson Lovich, Jr. (.287|.377|.540, 10 hr, 35 rbi)
RF Pierre Seals, Sr. (.324|.452|.593, 7 hr, 18 rbi, 16 sb) [Memphis]
OF Cayden Nicoletto, Sr. (.412|.467|.915, 27 hr, 81 rbi) [NAIA Columbia-MO]
Stetson (5.20|6.41|6.00 Runs per Game)
SS Lorenzo Meola, Jr. (.297|.393|.487, 10 hr, 58 rbi, 10 sb)
3B Isaiah Barkett, Jr. (.309|.413|.407, 1 hr, 29 rbi, 16 sb)
2B Yohann Dessureault, Sr. (.293|.369|.489, 11 hr, 41 rbi)
UConn (7.33|7.06|5.45 Runs per Game)
C Matt Garbowski, Sr. (.285|.387|.399, 4 hr, 20 rbi)
1B Maddix Dalena, Jr. (.242|.358|.511, 13 hr, 43 rbi)
OF Caleb Shpur, Gr. (.265|.372|.383, 3 hr, 22 rbi, 26 sb)
Quick Picks: Expert Analysis
Penn State vs. Missouri
Bryan: The Tigers need to rebuild quickly following the injury of Pimental. The Nittany Lions take this one easily on Opening Day. Penn State 7, Missouri 2.
Penn State vs. Stetson
Bryan: This reeks of trap-game potential despite the Hatters’ 41 wins. They won’t back down in this one. Stetson 9, Penn State 4.
Penn State vs. UConn
Bryan: DeSanto in the main event will not show flashes of slowing down. The Nittany Lions pull off the slight upset. Penn State 5, UConn 3.
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