March 25, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Penn State University softball team (21-8) extended its win-streak to nine games today as the Nittany Lions pounced on the Bison from Bucknell University (5-17) early and often. In the first game senior Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) took the third pitch of the game to deep centerfield to give PSU a 1-0 lead and the offense never looked back.
The Nittany Lions came up victorious 6-2 and 15-3 (5) in the contests. Esparza was not only explosive from the plate but she also dominated from the mound. She fanned 14 Bucknell batters in seven innings of work and only allowed three hits.
Adding to the offense in the first game was junior Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas/Kennedale) who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Not far behind was her classmate Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior Rebecca Bautista (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove) also had a stand-out game going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
In game two the offense exploded for 16 hits and 15 runs. Junior Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) went 2-for-2 with a three-run homerun and two more RBIs for a five RBI performance.
Zielinski came through once again hitting her first homerun of the season on her way to a 2-for-4 performance with three RBIs and two runs scored. Bautista repeated her first game numbers going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Freshman Janelle Lukens (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) registered a pair of RBIs while going 1-for-1 with a double.
Sophomore Kimi Wong (Goleta, Calif./Don Pueblos) got the start in the circle going the complete 5.0 innings while allowing just two earned runs.
The Nittany Lions will next be in action tomorrow, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. as the host St. Francis (Pa.) University in their home opener in Happy Valley.
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