UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 18, 2005) - Mike Lorentson, a left-handed pitcher from Springfield, Pa., has signed on to play baseball at Penn State, beginning in the 2006 season, head coach Robbie Wine announced on Saturday.

Lorentson, a 6-foot-4, 188-pounder, pitched last season as a freshman for Cochise Junior College in Douglas, Arizona, helping the Apaches to a 45-16 season and a trip to the Region I Championship game. He went 5-0 during his freshman campaign, with a 3.26 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 21 walks in 38.2 innings of work. He started in six of the 10 games he saw action, contributing in two shutouts.

"Mike is an athletic pitcher with experience at the junior college level," said Penn State pitching coach Jason Bell. "We are expecting him to come in and compete, and do a good job for us. He brings us valuable experience on the mound, coming from a winning program with a winning attitude."

Lorentson graduated from Malvern Prep in 2004 with current Nittany Lion catcher James Spinelli (Berwyn, Pa.). He was drafted in the 38th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, by the San Diego Padres.

"I'm very excited because I get to go to the school I've always wanted to go to, and I'll get to play baseball for them," Lorentson said. "I'm going to work hard, and try my best to help the team."

Cochise was ranked as high as No. 7 this past season in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division I poll. Cochise led the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference with a 2.66 team ERA.

Lorentson joins six freshmen in Penn State's incoming class of ballplayers. He will enter the fall baseball practice season as a newcomer with incoming freshmen David Bumstead (Etiwanda, Calif.), Garrett Field (Stillwater, Okla.), Adam Hull (Wichita, Kansas), Rick Marlin (Orlando, Fla.), Landon Nakata (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Cory Wine (Stillwater, Okla.).