The Penn State University softball team (28-15, 4-6 Big Ten) fell in game one of its battle with the University of Wisconsin (12-32, 2-10 Big Ten) 8-3 before handing the Badgers a 2-0 shutout loss. Freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) delivered a two-out two RBI triple in the top of the sixth to lift the Nittany Lions to a 2-0 victory. On the defensive side, redshirt freshman Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) pitched a complete game shutout striking out four while allowing just two hits.
In the first game the Nittany Lions got on the board early off a Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) RBI single in the top of the first to give them the early 1-0 lead. The very next inning, senior Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) and sophomore Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) hit back-to-back RBI singles giving PSU a 3-0 lead.
The Badgers would respond in a big way in the third scoring six earned runs off of six hits giving them a lead they would never relent.
Esparza got the start in the circle going 2.2 innings while striking out three. She was relieved by senior Jenn Reynolds (Clovis, Calif./Clovis) who went 3.1 innings while striking out four.
Both Griffith and Kinley went 2-for-3 while Esparza, Hill and Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y./Minisink Valley) added one hit a piece.
In game two Giordano, Hill, junior Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas/Kennedale) and sophomore Kimi Wong (Goleta, Calif./Don Pueblos) all had hits.
The Nittany Lions will return to action this Wednesday, April 16 at 4:00 p.m. when they host the University of Maryland at Nittany Lion Field.