Feb. 15, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In the final game of the Carolina Classic, the Penn State softball team fell 2-0 to No. 23 and host North Carolina. Penn State is now 4-4 on the season while UNC improves to 8-2. Making the all-tournament team were freshman pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) and sophomore shortstop Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.).
The Tar Heels struck first in the top of the second when Brittany McKenny sent a solo home run over the left field wall. Carolina threatened to score again in the third with two on and two outs, but senior centerfielder Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made the catch and ended the Tar Heels' third at-bat.
The next two innings went by smoothly. Akamine had a single in the third and Hovanec followed in the fourth with a single of her own, but no one advanced farther than second. North Carolina also got two hits, but the Nittany Lions kept them from scoring. The Tar Heels added to their lead in the top of the fifth when Christine Knauer reached home on a Danielle Spaulding sacrifice fly to center field.
The Nittany Lions had multiple opportunities to advance runners, but Spaulding and the Tar Heel infield played solid defense and diffused any scoring threats as Penn State left nine runners on base
Akamine went 2-for-4 while striking out three batters in 4.1 innings of work taking her first loss for a record of 3-1. As a team, Penn State accumulated six hits.
The Nittany Lions will be off next weekend and return to the diamond Feb. 27 through March 1 in Columbus, Ga. for the NFCA Leadoff Classic.