- Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 27, 2007 - On the strength of an 11-strikeout performance from starter Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif.) and a two-RBI day for second baseman Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas), Penn State posted a commanding 4-1 victory over Indiana in softball action Friday night. The Lions hot the Hoosiers in the second game of the series Saturday at Nittany Lion Field.
Indiana lit up the scoreboard first when a lead-off triple and a sacrifice fly sent the Hoosiers?? Julia Hamilton across the plate before Penn State could get the first three outs of the game. The lead-off run turned out to be all Esparza would allow in another great Big Ten performance for the junior.
With Indiana up 1-0, Esparza looked to get the equalizer on the board when she started the bottom of the second inning off with a double to right field. Esparza advanced on a routine groundout and stood down the line from a 1-1 tie with only one out in the frame. Sophomore second baseman Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas) answered the call, zipping a single up the middle for her 19th RBI of the year. The inning ended quickly, however, on a double play and left the score 1-1 heading into the third inning.
Penn State piled two more runs on in the bottom of the third inning. Third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) started things off with a looping hit to left centerfield. After a groundout, senior Meghan Wolfer (Northampton, Pa.) laid down her 13th sacrifice of the year. An errant throw from Indiana third baseman Jennifer Huddleston on the play flew past the Hoosiers?? first baseman, scoring Madura from second and getting Wolfer all the way to third. Sophomore Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) earned her team-leading 18th walk of the year putting Nittany Lion runners on first and third. Next up, Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla.) recorded her 16th RBI when she drove Wolfer home, but Acunto??s groundout was the Nittany Lions?? second of the inning. Esparza was hit by a pitch to extend the inning, but a fly out to the next batter ended the stanza with the score Penn State 3, Indiana 1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, a Zielinski homer, her fourth of the year, gave Penn State the 4-1 final.
Esparza struck out 11 hitters in the victory for Penn State and is 11-9 on the season. Indiana hurler Monica Wright is now 14-17 on the year after striking out only three Lions in the loss.
The Nittany Lions host Indiana again Saturday at noon to continue Big Ten softball action. Penn State will celebrate senior day on Sunday at noon vs. Purdue. Seniors Kelsey Francisco (State College, Pa.), Kari Lucas (Centre Hall, Pa.), Jen Williams (Stillwater, Okla.) and Meghan Wolfer (Northampton, Pa.) will all be honored before the contest. Sunday??s doubleheader will also feature a pizza party between games. Nittany Lion Field is located at the corner of University Drive and Park Avenue. Admission to all softball games is free.