March 7, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - Penn State started the day off on the right foot in a 4-1 routing of UC Davis on the second day of the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic. Junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) threw a two-hitter while senior center fielder Sam Hovanec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) hit her first home run of the season. Penn State is now 7-6 on the season while the Aggies fall to 10-7.
UC Davis struck early in the first as Michelle Espiritu scored off a single from Julie Stauder with no outs. With the next batter, the Lions connected for a double play as senior second baseman Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas) caught the line drive and pitched it to senior first baseman Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) catching Stauder off the base.
Penn State got off to a good start in the second as Kinley reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second as the ball skided across foul territory. She then made her way to third on a wild pitch, but the inning ended with a strike out.
Hovanec evened the score with a towering leadoff home run in the bottom of the third. An error by the Aggies in the bottom of the fifth extended the inning as Hill fired a single up the middle to score sophomore shortstop Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.) who reached after taking a pitch to the leg. And the Nittany Lions weren't done yet. With senior third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) on third after reaching first on the previous error and advancing with Hill's single, Carnie Smith (New Wilmington, Pa.) came in to pinch run. For the second time this weekend, the Lions setup the double steal and Madura was halfway down the third base line when the Aggies catcher began the rundown that would eventually catch Smith between first and second. Madura's run scored prior to the tag giving Penn State the 3-1 lead.
Later in the sixth, Kinley reached first on the second of two fielders choices as Zielinski stepped up to the plate with two outs. Staring at a 2-2 count, Zielinski lauched a ball to left center falling just out of reach of the Aggie outfield giving her the double and bringing Kinley across the plate.
Hill collected a two-hitter fanning eight batters in the win to become 4-4 in the circle.
The Nittany Lions will return to the diamond at 9 p.m. ET to face the Redbirds of Illinois State. Fans can follow the action live via Gametracker at www.GoPSUsports.com.