FULLERTON, Calif., March 16, 2007 ?? Penn State advanced to the championship bracket of the Judi Garman Classic with a stunning 6-5 eight inning victory over No. 8 Texas. Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth after Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly deep to left field. The Lions improve to 11-11 this season. The victory over the Longhorns is Penn State's first win over a ranked team this season. The Lions are currently 2-0 in games that went to extra innings with both wins coming in the Judi Garman Classic.
Penn State finished as the second seed in its pool and will play at 2:15 p.m. ET on Saturday against No. 15 Louisiana-Lafayette. Penn State lost its only meeting with the Ragin' Cajuns in 2004, 7-1.
| Ashley Griffith |
The Longhorns took a 3-0 lead in the second when Kelly Melone hit a three-run homer over the right field fence.
Penn State cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) was trapped in a rundown between second and third and Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas) was stuck between third and home. After Texas could not tag Madura, Zielinski was able to race home to cut the Longhorn lead to two.
Texas added one run in the fifth on an RBI single by Megan Willis, but Penn State was able to tally a run of its own when Ashley Griffith scored on an error by the pitcher. Texas added another run in the sixth when Jacqueline Williams belted a solo homer to take a 5-2 lead.
Penn State rallied with three runs in the sixth to tie the game at five apiece. Meghan Wolfer (Northampton, Pa.) got the hits started when she bunted safely to reach first. Griffith walked to move Wolfer to second and then Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif.) drove a single to the outfield to load the bases. Kinley then belted a single to center field to score Wolfer and Griffith. Hollee Haines (Riverside, Calif.) stepped to the plate next and hit Penn State's third straight single to score Esparza for the game-tying run.
The Lions had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh after Zielinski lined a double down the right field line, but could not tally the winning run until the eighth inning.
Pitcher Ashley Esparza and the Lion defense held Texas scoreless in the eighth inning after Haines was able to pick off the runner stealing third.
Penn State scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Griffith started the inning on second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Esparza. Kinley then nailed a long fly ball to the left fielder and Griffith was able to tag up and bring home the winner.