Oct. 6, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State softball team had a successful Fall season, as the Nittany Lions went through their schedule nearly unblemished at 5-1. Penn State split with Bucknell on Sept. 25 and won all four of its games in this past weekend's tournament at Nittany Lion Field against Virginia Tech, Lock Haven, Iona and Saint Francis (Pa.).
The Nittany Lions opened their Fall campaign against Bucknell with two pitching duels on Sept. 25. In game one, Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) threw a no-hitter against the Bison in a 1-0 victory. Hill allowed just two baserunners all game, while Desi Giordano's (West Caldwell, N.J.) steal of home plate proved to be the difference.
In game two, Penn State and Bucknell remained tied at one after eight innings, with the Bison prevailing in nine with a series of errors, passed balls and a wild pitch that allowed the winning run to score. Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) went the distance allowing eight hits and just one earned run, while striking out eight. Freshman Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) scored the Lions' lone run on consecutive passed balls in the second inning, while posting two hits.
The highlight of the four-game tournament was Akamine's 14-strikeout one-hitter against Iona on Saturday, Oct. 3. The sophomore hurler was just two outs away from completing the no-hit bid in the 5-0 victory. The Nittany Lions pounded out 10 hits against the Gaels including a pair of two-hit performances by sophomore Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) and freshman Lauren Yao (Los Angeles, Calif.).
Earlier in the day the Nittany Lions toppled the Hokies of Virginia Tech by a score of 3-2. Penn State got on the board early with two in the bottom of the first inning when a Collett single drove in senior Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.). Next time up, the Nittany Lion employed a double steal when Griffith took off for second, while Giordano stole home.
After Virginia Tech got one back in the top of the third, Penn State cushioned its lead when Bell singled home freshman Shannon Hutchinson (Sewell, N.J.), but Bell was tagged out at second to end the fifth inning. VT would score another in the top of the sixth, but PSU held on for the one-run win.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, the Lions took on defending NCAA Division II Champion Lock Haven at Nittany Lion Field. After falling behind 1-0, Penn State notched two in the top of the fourth when Akamine knocked two runs home for a lead PSU would have until LHU tied things up in the fifth.
A double by Bell drove Hutchinson home in the seventh to break the deadlock at 2. Two batters later, Collett sent Bell home with a double of her own for a 4-2 lead the Nittany Lions would not relinquish.
In the nightcap, Hill threw a three-hitter in a 2-0 win over Saint Francis. Hill fanned eight Red Flash batters as Collett and freshman Kailyn Johnson (Yorba Linda, Calif.) each drove in a run.
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion softball this season, visit GoPSUsports.com.
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--NITTANY LIONS--