ROSEMONT, Ill. – Penn State catcher Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney, Pa.) batted .500 for the week and belted his first home run as a Nittany Lion to earn the Big Ten Baseball Freshman of the Week award for the week of Apr. 18-24, the conference office announced Monday.
(Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics)
In three starts behind the dish, Sloniger went 5-for-10 for the week, getting hits in all three games he played, and tying for the team lead with five RBIs for the week. Sloniger played major roles in Penn State’s victories over Bucknell and Rutgers. Against Bucknell, he went 2-for-4 with a double and his third four-RBI game of the season. He then helped lead the Lions past Rutgers in the series finale Sunday, as he went 2-for-3 with his first home run and two runs scored in the 7-5 victory.
Sloniger is the second Nittany Lion to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season, joining Willie Burger (Lancaster, Pa.) who has won the award twice, including last week. Entering the season, Penn State had never had multiple winners of the rookie weekly honor, which was first introduced in 2011. Prior to Burger and Sloniger, Jim Haley (2014) and Sal Biasi (2015) were the only previous Penn State honorees.
Penn State will next host Kent State Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. It will be both $1 hot dog night and Champions Night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, as Penn State’s women’s soccer and wrestling teams will be honored for their NCAA National Championships, and many others will be recognized for individual accomplishments.
2016 Penn State Big Ten Baseball Players of the Week
March 21
PL: Willie Burger
F: Willie Burger
April 11
PL: Nick Riotto
April 18
PL: Greg Guers
F: Willie Burger
April 25,
F: Ryan Sloniger
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