Feb. 8, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. - It was a team effort in the nightcap as the Nittany Lions crushed Cal State Bakersfield 13-1 in five innings. Penn State is now 2-2 on the season while CSUB falls to 0-4.
The Nittany Lions got started in the second inning. Junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) made it to first on a single. With two outs, sophomore shortstop Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.) blasted a homerun over the left center wall. Penn State kept pouring it on as the next four batters got base-hits to bring in two more runs, while the following three were walked. A wild pitch allowed senior outfielder Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) to score, and for the first time in three at-bats, the bases weren't loaded. With runners on first and third, freshman catcher Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) ripped a double down the right field line to bring in senior outfielder Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Hill before a strikeout ended the inning. The Nittany Lions accumulated seven hits and nine runs throughout the second inning.
The Roadrunners were no match in the batters' box as Penn State held them to one hit through the next three innings.
When the Nittany Lions went to bat in the fifth, they had some extra help from reserve players. Sophomore outfielder Carnie Smith (New Wilminton, Pa.) got things started with a walk as freshman utility Ellen McNair (Niceville, Fla.) followed with a single. Junior outfielder Danielle Noll (Bald Eagle, Pa.) reached on a fielding error as Smith crossed the plate, while senior outfielder Christana Crivellaro (Coopersburg, Pa.) added a single of her own to bring in McNair. Freshman outfielder Morgan Long (Oro Valley, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice to score Todd and Noll followed on a wild pitch. The Nittany Lions finished the fifth inning with three hits and four runs.
The Roadrunners tried to mount a comeback, but fell far short of catching the red hot Nittany Lions. Cal State Bakersfield got started in the bottom of the fifth when Misty Finlay reached on a fielder's choice. A single by Nette Puente and a fielding error brought pinch runner, Heather Veitch to third. Chelsey Bell then fired a single down the right line to score Veitch eliminating the shutout. But it wasn't enough as the game ended on a pop fly.
The Nittany Lions combined for 10 hits and 11 RBI in the win. Collett and Giordano each went 1-for-2 with two RBI while freshman pitcher Lisa Akamine struck out three batters in her first career win.
Penn State will wrap up the Kajikawa Classic Sunday against UC Santa Barbara at 2:30 p.m. ET.