| Jen Acunto |
COLUMBUS , Ohio, May 10, 2007- Top-seeded Ohio State was too much for the Nittany Lions as the Buckeyes tallied 10 hits in a 10-2 victory over Penn State in the opening round of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament at Buckeye Field. Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla.) racked up two hits in the game to lead Penn State. The junior shortstop notched her 39th career double, giving her the top spot on the all-time doubles charts at Penn State.
Senior Meghan Wolfer (Northampton, Pa.) gave Penn State its first hit of the game with a looping single to center field in the top of the first. Two quick outs by the Ohio State defense stranded Wolfer on first to end the inning.
The Buckeyes took an early 2-0 lead after Brittany Vanderink and Sam Marder were both walked. RBI singles from third baseman Jamee Juarez and first baseman Christina Douglas gave Ohio State the lead in the bottom of the first.
Penn State's Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla.) led off the second with a single to left field. With one out, Hollee Haines (Riverside, Calif.) grounded out to third base to advance Acunto to second. Designated player Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned a walk to give the Lions two baserunners. Buckeyes pitcher Kim Reeder was able to strike out Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) to end the scoring threat.
Ohio State's bats caught fire in the bottom of the third. The Buckeyes tallied six hits and scored eight runs. With the bases loaded, Douglas hit a base clearing, three-RBI double to give Ohio State a 5-0 lead. An RBI double from Lauren Daykin gave the Buckeyes a six-run lead. Liz Caputo added to the lead with a two-run single and Sam Marder also hit a single that scored two to give the Buckeyes a 10-0 advantage.
The Nittany Lions became their comeback in the top of the fourth when Jen Acunto belted her ninth double of the season to right center. The double gave Acunto the career doubles record at Penn State with 39. Kayce Zielinski (Arlington , Texas) drew a walk to give the Lions runners on first and second. The next batter, Haines, hit a single to center field and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder. Acunto was able to come home on the hit and Zielinski advanced to third. Hovanec then tallied her first hit of the game, an RBI single that scored Zielinski and narrowed the score to 10-2.
Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) gave Penn State a chance to get on the board in the fifth when she tallied her 18th double of the season. The double tied teammate Jen Acunto's record for doubles in a season. The Lions were unable to take advantage of the hit and Ohio State was able to take the 10-2 victory, due to the eight-run rule after five innings.