May 4, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State University softball team (34-22, 6-12 Big Ten) played its final game of the regular season today (May 4) at Nittany Lion Field as the #6 University of Michigan (48-5, 18-2 Big Ten) came to town. PSU matched Michigan hit-for-hit but was unable to push a run across as the Wolverines won 3-0.
The scoring got started in the second inning as freshman Dorian Shaw of Michigan hit a two-run homerun to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. Senior Samantha Findlay of Michigan would add another solo shot in the fourth accounting for the final run of the day.
Senior Ashley Esparza (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro) closed out her Nittany Lion career with a 2-for-3 performance with a double which put her in sole position of the career doubles record at Penn State with 44. Senior's Hollee Haines (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) and Jen Acunto (Hollywood, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) also had hits in their final game as a Nittany Lion while freshman Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J./Caldwell) added the other hit for PSU's total of five.
Redshirt freshman Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) and Esparza split time in the circle with Hill picking up the loss. Hill went 3.0 innings while striking out four and allowing three hits. Esparza went the remaining 4.0 innings with two strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
The Nittany Lions said farewell to five outstanding seniors including Esparza, Haines, Acunto, Rebecca Bautista (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove) and Jenn Reynolds (Clovis, Calif./Clovis). All five helped lead the program to three-straight NCAA tournament and Big Ten tournament appearances and will be missed. The group included three All-Region players, two All-Big Ten players and one All-American.
The Nittany Lions will await the announcement of the 2008 NCAA Tournament Field with hopes of making it four-straight years in the NCAA Tournament.