Feb. 23, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Penn State University softball team (1-3) picked up its first victory of the season with an 8-0 drubbing of Appalachian State University (1-7). Senior Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) was nearly flawless as she pitched all five innings giving up only two hits while striking out 11. She also led the team at the plate going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a double.
Following a three-up-three-down top of the first, the Nittany Lions wasted no time getting on the board as senior Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) used an error by the third baseman to reach first. She then stole second and advanced to third on a poor throw by the catcher. This left the door open for Esparza to step up and give herself a lead with a base-clearing double through the left side.
Inning number two was much the same with Esparza shutting down the Mountaineers and the offense firing up at the plate. A couple of hit-by-pitches, walks and a hit by Acunto helped plate four runs in the second.
The third featured another flawless pitching performance while the bats came alive on the Nittany Lion side in the form of two hits and three runs scored.
The perfect game was ended with 3.2 innings completed as a Mountaineer doubled to left field to end the domination.
PSU was led by Esparza and freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) who each went 2-for-2 while Giordano picked up two runs scored and Esparza had three RBI.
Senior Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas/Kennedale) and Acunto were the only other two Nittany Lions to pick up hits with each garnering one.
PSU will next be in action tomorrow against Syracuse University at 11:00 a.m.
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