Penn State Baseball Turns Two Triple Plays In One Game
Yes, you read that correctly.
In the first game of a season-ending doubleheader against Michigan State on Friday, the Nittany Lions converted two triplet-killings, the second team in the history of the NCAA to do so, according to the team’s Twitter account.
TRIPLE PLAY!!! PSU turns its 2nd triple play of the season off a lineout to Haley who steps on 2nd and fires to 1st!
— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) May 16, 2014
ANOTHER TRIPLE PLAY!!!! Penn State turns a 2nd triple play in the T8 with a L4-6-3 to end the 8th!
— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) May 16, 2014
Triple Play #1 came in the fourth inning, when Spartan designated hitter Blaise Salter hit a liner to shortshop Jim Haley, who stepped on second and threw to first for a 6-3 scoring. Coincidentally, that was the team’s second triple play of the year, which tied it for the NCAA lead with West Virginia.
Of course, the Lions weren’t done. In the eighth, they’d kill three birds with one ball again on a Jimmy Pickens liner to second baseman Taylor Skerpon in the same situation. This one was scored 4-6-3. The Lions are now tops in triple plays in the whole NCAA.
See for yourself:
If you’re not baseball-inclined, this feat is simply incredible. The only other team to ever do this was Gonzaga in 2006, and frankly, I’m pretty shocked this has ever happened before. At the Major League level, this has only happened once, when the Minnesota Twins did it to the Boston Red Sox in 1990.
“It was pretty crazy,” coach Rob Cooper said. “So many games are played and that has only happened once before.”
People took notice:
Penn State turned TWO triple plays in one game vs Michigan State today. Some context: That’s happened just once in major league history.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2014
Have you seen a play better than @PennStateBASE‘s two triple-plays today?! Tweet us your picks using #The1 & see what makes the show!
— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) May 16, 2014
The pair of triple plays earned No. 1 on Sportscenter’s Top 10. Ironically, Penn State lost, 4-2. It also lost the nightcap, 4-1.
“It’s great publicity for our program and all, but if I’m being honest with you, I’d trade it for some wins today,” Cooper said.
Way to make baseball nerds everywhere proud, fellas.
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