April 8, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State University softball team (27-14, 3-5 Big Ten) earned a split today (April 8) with visiting University of Pittsburgh (21-14), 0-2 and 6-0. Two seniors took to the mound for the Nittany Lions and both turned in outstanding performances. Unfortunately for Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) her 10 strikeout and three hit performance was not enough to garner a win.
Senior Jenn Reynolds (Clovis, Calif./Clovis) on the other hand picked up six strikeouts and allowed three hits of her own in the game two shutout victory. Both pitchers went the distance throwing just over 100 pitches each.
In game one the Nittany Lions were only able to get three hits coming from Esparza, junior Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) and junior Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y./Minisink Valley). The defense proved to be a huge factor as they allowed three errors which caused one of the runs to be unearned.
In the second game the defense woes switched teams as Pittsburgh turned in a two error performance. The bats for LHU continued to struggle as the picked up five hits which turned into six runs. Esparza and Kinley once again got a hit along with sophomore Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), senior Hollee Haines (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) and sophomore Kimi Wong (Goleta, Calif./Don Pueblos).
The Nittany Lions improved to 27-14 on the year surpassing their win total from last season by one game with many more games to play. PSU looks to add to its win total this weekend as the team travels to Minnesota and Wisconsin for a pair of Big Ten series.