March 22, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - The Penn State University softball team (17-8) got off to a hot start in very frigid temperatures in the first game of the Best Western Miami (OH) Invitational. The Nittany Lions scored three early runs in the first and then added seven more in the sixth to win 10-2 in six innings over the University of Toledo (5-7).
Senior Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) and junior Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) led the team at the plate both going 2-for-4 with Kinley adding two runs scored and Esparza knocking in two RBIs. Freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) added two RBIs on her lone hit of the afternoon along with sophomore Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) and junior Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) who each scored one and drove in two.
The Nittany Lions got things started in the first using three hits, a hit-by-pitch and a pair of stolen bases to score three runs. Toledo would respond in the sixth cutting the lead to one by scoring a pair of runs off two hits.
The 3-2 score only inspired the Nittany Lions as they went out and scored seven runs to put the game away.
Redshirt-freshman Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) got the start in the circle picking up her ninth win of the season going all six innings while striking out four.