May 9, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - In the final games of the season, Penn State lost both games of the double header to the No. 11 Ohio State Buckeyes. Game one was a 6-0 decision before the 2-0 nightcap. Penn State is now 19-27 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play while Ohio State improves to 44-9 overall and 16-4 in conference. Junior left fielder Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) and senior first baseman Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) each went 2-for-3 in the nightcap.
Ohio State threatened early in game one at the bottom of the first with the bases loaded and two outs, but junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) maintained her composure and fanned the third batter of the inning to keep the Buckeyes scoreless.
The pitcher's duel continued through the fifth inning, but Ohio State took advantage of a Penn State error and got the first score of the game as Dee Dee Hilman crossed the plate on a base hit by Vanessa Spears.
Penn State had a big opprotunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth as senior third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) doubled to right field. Mary Ostman (Northbrook, Ill.) then came in to pinch run and advanced to third courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Griffith, but the Lions were retired before Ostman could score.
The Buckeyes struck again in the bottom of the frame as Alicia Herron singled up the middle and advanced on a sacrifice. Tory Haddad then doubled to right center as Herron scored the insurance run. Hillman then sent a sacrifice fly to center field as pinch runner Katie Simonton came in to score. The hits just kept on coming as Spears then hit a three-RBI home run over right center to take a 6-0 lead before the third out.
Penn State tallied two hits and left four runners on base while Ohio State scored six runs on eight hits. Hill struck out seven in the loss to become 13-11 in the circle while Kim Reeder fanned six in her 23rd win of the season.
The Nittany Lions got started on the right foot in the nightcap as Griffith used her speed to reach on a bunt. She advanced to second on a passed ball and made it to third as senior second baseman Kayce Zielinksi (Arlington, Texas) grounded out. Unfortunately, another ground out would end the inning.
The Buckeyes also got a runner to third in the bottom of the second as Whitney Cooper singled to left field. She proceeded to steal second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But freshman pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) maintained her composure and struck out three in order to keep Ohio State scoreless.
Once again, the game was scoreless until the fifth when Courtney Pruner singled to left center and reached second on a Hillman single. Spears then doubled down the right field line as Pruner came in to score. Penn State minimized the damage as Griffith made the catch to retire the inning.
Penn State had a chance to answer as Griffith and Kinley got back-to-back hits with one out, but a strike out and a ground out would end the Lions' at bat. Ohio State then got the insurance run as Sam Marder hit a solo shot over center field in the leadoff positon. No more runs would score as Penn State fell in the 2-0 decision.
Penn State scattered five hits and left four on base while Ohio State scored two runs with seven hits. Akamine struck out six, four of who went down looking in the loss to become 6-13 in the circle as Lindsay Bodeker fanned five in her 16th win.