April 5, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Powered by 13 runs and a no-hitter by Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro), the Penn State University softball team (26-11, 3-3 Big Ten) shutout the visiting Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois (20-18, 2-2 Big Ten), 13-0. It only took five innings to complete but the PSU bats were able to muster seven extra-base hits including five homeruns which ranks as a season-high.
PSU got on the board early as junior Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas/Kennedale) hit a three-run homerun over the center field fence with two outs in the bottom of the first. The Nittany Lions would post five more runs in the following inning off a three RBI triple by freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) followed by a two-run homer by Zielinski.
The long balls would keep coming as junior Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and sophomore Kimi Wong (Goleta, Calif./Don Pueblos) hit back-to-back bombs in the third to give PSU a 10-0 lead heading into the fourth. Giordano got things started in the fourth with a lead-off homerun to put the lead at 11.
Two more runs would score one off a bases loaded hit by pitch and the second off a single by sophomore Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape).
Esparza worked all five innings in the circle striking out eight while allowing just one walk. Her no-hitter is the second of the season for the Nittany Lions as Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) threw one against Syracuse earlier this season.
Leading the way at the plate was Zielinski who went 2-for-2 with two homeruns and five RBI. Giordano went 2-for-3 with a homerun and four RBI. The final multiple hit Nittany Lion was Griffith who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Nittany Lions will next be in action tomorrow, April 6 at 12 p.m. as they host Iowa for a doubleheader at Nittany Lion Field.