April 16, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In the second mid-week double header in three days, the Penn State softball team fell to Saint Francis by a score of 4-2 in game one before shuting out the Red Flash in the nightcap, 2-0. Penn State is now 15-19 while Saint Francis is 19-22. Freshman catcher Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) had three hits on the day while senior first baseman Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) hit her 43rd career double and is now one away from tying the all-time record.
Saint Francis threatened early in the second inning of the night cap with the bases loaded and one out. Freshman pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) kept her cool in striking out the next batter as Zielinski grabbed a line drive to end the inning and keep the Red Flash scoreless.
The Nittany Lion offense came to life in the fifth as Kinley ripped a double to left center while junior left fielder Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) brought her to third with a bunting single. Griffith then stole second and as the throw sailed over her head, she advanced to second while Kinley scored. But the Lions weren't done yet as Akamine fired a single through the left side to plate Griffith.
Penn State scored two runs off six hits with two errors while Saint Francis had three hits and three errors. Akamine struck out six and collected her first win since the March 12 victory over then-No. 9 Arizona to become 5-10 in the circle.
In game one the Nittany Lions continued their trend of scoring early as Collett singled up the middle with one out. Senior right fielder Christana Crivellaro (Coopersburg, Pa.) followed taking a pitch to the leg to put Collett in scoring position. Zielinski then ripped a single of her own well into the outfield as Collett rounded third and scored the first run of the game. The Lions had a chance to extend their lead as senior third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice, but Crivellaro was tagged out at home. The inning ended with a strike out, but the damage had been done as Penn State held a 1-0 lead. The Lions extended their lead in the fifth as Madura led off with a triple. A sacrifice fly courtesy of Kinley allowed Madura easy access to home plate.
The Red Flash managed to rally in the sixth capitalizing on Lion errors in scoring two unearned runs. The momentum carried into the seventh as Saint Francis scored two runs on three hits, including a home run. Penn State went three-and-out in its final at bat as Saint Francis took the game, 4-2.
Penn State scored two runs off four hits with two errors while Saint Francis scored four runs off seven hits with one error. Junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) fanned five batters and took the loss becoming 10-5 in the circle.
The Nittany Lions will resume Big Ten play with a two-game series at Minnesota this weekend. Game one will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and game two will follow on Sunday at Noon ET.