March 6, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - Penn State had a tough time with No. 5 Stanford in the opening game of the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic falling 8-0 in six innings. The Nittany Lions are now 5-6 on the season while the Cardinal improves to 20-1. Freshman pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) had the top performance for the Lions going 2-for-3.
Stanford got things started in the second with two on and no outs. Maddy Coon came in to score off a Rosey Neil single through the left side. The Cardinal scored again as Melisa Koutz ripped a sinlge up the middle to score Maya Burns before center fielder Sam Hovanec (Pittsburg, Pa.) connected with freshman catcher Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) to tag out Autumn Albers at home. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and still only one out, Alissa Haber reached on a fielder's choice as Akamine sent the grounder to Collett for the out at home as Hovanec made a slick grab on a long ball to center field to minimize the damage.
Akamine broke the no-hitter with a single through the right side in the top of the third and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.). The inning ended on a ground out to second.
The Cardinal bats lit up again in the third as two more runs were scored on two hits. Akamine struck out her first batter of the game to close out the inning. Stanford scored again in the fourth when Shannon Koplitz homered over the left field wall.
Penn State had a chance to score in the fifth as sophomore right fielder Mary Ostman (Northbrook, Ill.) reached first on a perfectly placed bunt. She advanced to second on a passed ball and rounded third with an Akamine single settling just behind second. Unfortunately the throw beat Ostman as Stanford closed the inning.
Although Penn State kept the Cardinal scoreless in the fifth, history repeated itself in the sixth as Koplitz fired a second homer to left field scoring Haber in the process. With seven runs in the bottom of the sixth and the bases loaded, Stanford scored the final run they needed off a walk to end the game in six innings.
Akamine fanned two batters in 5.2 innings of work while going 2-for-3 in the batters box and took her second loss of the season bringing her record to 3-2. Missy Penna took the win for Stanford and is now 13-1 on the season.
The Nittany Lions will face off with the Catamounts of Vermont in tonight's night-cap. Fans can follow the action live via Gametracker at www.GoPSUsports.com.