Feb. 14, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Nittany Lion softball team got the Carolina Classic off on the right foot as it downed Wichita State 4-0 Saturday morning. Penn State is now 3-2 on the season while Wichita State falls to 2-5.
The Nittany Lions got started in the second inning when junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) took a pitch to the helmet to reach first. Carnie Smith (New Wilmington, Pa.) came in to pinch run and proceeded to steal second. A Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) single to center brought Smith home for the first score of the game. Sophomore shortstop Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.) made the sacrifice to advance Collett to second while senior second baseman Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas) got on base with a walk. Back at the top of the lineup, freshman right fielder Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) fired a double to right center to score Collett before the inning ended on a ground out to short.
The Shockers posed a scoring threat in the bottom of the third when Kersti Rowan advanced to third with no outs. But the Nittany Lions kept their cool and ended the inning with a strikeout and two pop-ups.
Later in the sixth Wichita State had runners on first and second with one out, but Penn State diffused the situation when senior third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) picked up the grounder and tagged third before catching the runner at first for the Nittany Lions' fourth double play in five games.
Penn State wasn't done scoring yet as Akamine fired a two-run homer over the right center wall to bring Madura across the plate in the process.
Junior left fielder Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J. went 2-for-3 in the effort while Akamine added three RBI. Hill struck out six batters, four of which went down looking, while taking the win and her first shutout of the season.
The Nittany Lions will return to Anderson Stadium to face off with George Washington at 12:30 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the action live via Gametracker on www.GoPSUSports.com.