FULLERTON, Calif., March 15, 2007?? The Penn State softball team went 1-1 in opening day action of the Judi Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton. The Lions defeated host Fullerton in a nine inning battle, 6-5, and fell to DePaul, 3-2. Penn State is currently 10-11 and will face Texas on Friday, March 15 at 2:15 p.m. ET in the final game of pool play. Depending on the result of the Texas game, Penn State will advance to either the championship bracket or the consolation bracket. Bracket play will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Fullerton
Penn State opened the 2007 Judi Garman Classic with an exciting 6-5 nine inning victory over host Cal State Fullerton. Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla.) led the Lions with a 3-of-4 performance, including a two-run homer in the second inning. The Lions continue tournament action with the second game of the doubleheader against DePaul at 1:30 a.m. ET tonight.
The nine inning game was the first extra innings game of the season for Penn State and first since a 14 inning affair with Iowa in 2004.
The Nittany Lions got off to a hot start when Acunto hit a leadoff single to center field. Freshman Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) bunted safely to reach first, but Acunto was nabbed at second for the first out. Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif.) then hit a line drive single to left field. The next batter, Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.), was walked to load the bases for Hollee Haines (Riverside, Calif.). Haines hit a chopper to the shortstop, who was unable to make the throw home in time as Griffith slid safely for Penn State??s first run.
| Jen Acunto |
After senior Meghan Wolfer (Northampton, Pa.) reached second safely on a bunt and then a throwing error by the Fullerton pitcher, Acunto stepped to the plate and blasted her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to push the Lion lead to 3-0.
Fullerton rallied to score two runs in the fourth inning to make it a 3-2 game. After starting pitcher Jenn Reynolds (Clovis, Calif.) could not get out of a bases loaded jam, Esparza entered the circle for the Lions. Despite the pitching change, the Titans managed to score Lauren Lupinetti on an RBI single and Katie Gollhardt on a fielder??s choice.
Penn State added a run in the sixth to make it a 4-2 margin. First baseman Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) walked and then Acunto smacked her third hit of the game to advance Hovanec to second. Outfielder Griffith then hit a looping single over the head of the shortstop to score Hovanec.
Fullerton rallied to score once in the sixth inning. Down one run, Titans shortstop Courtney Martinez hit the game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In extra innings, the international tie breaker is used and a runner is placed on second base to begin each inning. To begin the eighth inning, Kari Lucas (Centre Hall, Pa.) started on second. After Hovanec reached first on a fielder??s choice, Wolfer loaded the bases when the third baseman for Fullerton could not handle her bunt. Acunto then grounded into a double play with Fullerton getting Lucas out on the force at home. Griffith hit her second RBI of the game with a base hit slap into left field to score Hovanec and give Penn State a 5-4 edge.
In the bottom of the eighth, Fullerton placed Ashley Van Boxmeer on second to start. After the first batter popped up to Acunto, Esparza struck out the next batter. Crystal Vieyra then drove a single to center field to bring Van Boxmeer home to tie the game.
Entering the ninth inning of play, Penn State placed Kelsey Francisco (State College, Pa.) on second. Haines grounded out to second base, but Francisco was able to advance to third. The next batter, Reynolds, hit a single straight up the middle to score Francisco for a 6-5 lead.
The Nittany Lions held on to the lead in the bottom of the ninth with three straight Fullerton outs.
DePaul
After two scoreless innings for both teams, Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third. Acunto reached first on a throwing error by the pitcher and she advanced to second when Griffith singled to left field. Both runners moved up a base with a wild pitch. DePaul then intentionally walked Esparza to load the bases for Kinley. Kinley smacked a ball to the shortstop, who couldn??t handle it, and Acunto and Griffith were both able to come home.
DePaul answered with three runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead that it would not relinquish.
Esparza struck out five straight from the fourth to the sixth inning, including three straight in the fifth.