fallbutler3

   Both coaching staffs knew it was going to be a war. That would explain why both teams came with their top guns. In game one, Penn State Beaver coach Ron Nichols sent out the conferences top left handed pitcher in Justin Tucker who owns a 4-1 record and 1.51 ERA. Tucker's only blemish came in ten innings against Butler. In game two, Butler countered with righthander Jim Gerstel, who defeated the Blue Devils earlier this season.
     Penn State won both battles of the war and created some separation between them and third place. The Blue Devils now own a three game cushion between second and third place in the conference.

PSU BEAVER 4
Butler County CC 0
   Defense and pitching wins championships. That adage is echoed on locker rooms and in post game speeches around the world of baseball. The Penn State Beaver Blue Devils made that saying stick in game one of a crucial doubleheader with Butler County Community College. Freshman Justin Tucker hurled a commanding two hit shut out and great defensive plays were cashed in by Rick Dietz, Andy Fry, and John Rosati. These three prowled the outfield like angry pit bulls in a junk yard. The defense only committed one error.
     Offensively, the Devils scored all the runs they would need when they put two up in the fourth inning. Rick Dietz led off with a single over the third baseman's head. Andy Fry followed with a bunt single. Both runners were driven in by Brad Dean.
     The Devils received insurance runs in the sixth inning as Brad Mustio reached first on an error by the shortstop. Mike Meerdo singled him home. Meerdo scored the fourth run when Butler pitcher Tim Rose balked as Dan Hileman left for second base early.
BOX SCORE

PSU BEAVER 2
Butler County CC 1
     It seemed the stakes were raised in game two. Butler, trying to hold on to its fall season, needed to avoid a sweep for the second consecutive day. Penn State Beaver could taste first place and playoff berths, after winning twelve of its last thirteen games.
     In the midst of this energy, freshman lefthander Craig Herrmann was a picture of calm. He pitched a complete seven game three hitter. Herrmann didn't smile when shortstop Ron Glass made a tremendous diving stop in the fifth inning to save a run. He didn't grin when Glass threw to first to get Trent Geraci to end the fifth. Herrmann did not frown in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings when Butler had moved the tying run to second base. Herrmann rarely gets caught up in these trivial emotions. He just pitches and pitches and pitches.
     This leadership came in a difficult time, as the Blue Devils only managed four hits in the contest. The Blue Devils scored their runs in the second inning when Rick Dietz led off with a double and scored on a perfectly executed bunt by Andy Fry. Fry moved to third on an overthrow from the third baseman. Fry scored when Chris Thumm laced a grounder to third base that was too hot to handle. The two runs would stick thanks to great pitching and great defense by the Devils.
     The win was coach Ron Nichols 100th win. Nichols took over the Blue Devils program in the fall season of 1999.
BOX SCORE