Feb. 20, 2011
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Penn State softball team had a frustrating day at the plate with 12 runners left on base in a 3-0 loss to Tulsa on Sunday at the FAU Softball Stadium.
The Nittany Lions (2-3) threatened in the first when Lauren Yao (Los Angeles, Calif.) walked on four straight pitches with one out. Kailyn Johnson (Yorba Linda, Calif.) was then hit by a pitch and Danee Collett's (Rogersville, Tenn.) hit up the middle pegged Yao on an odd bounce for the second out. Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.) would walk to load the bases, but Penn State couldn't scratch a run together as Tulsa escaped unharmed
In the bottom of the first, Tulsa (5-5) would strike. A pair of singles put set up runners on second and third with no outs. Starting pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) induced a ground out to the mound throwing out the runner at home for the first out. Another grounder allowed Tulsa's first run to score before a fly out ended the inning in favor of the Golden Hurricane.
The Nittany Lions would again load the bases in the third after a single and two walks. Unfortunately for Penn State no one would advance and Tulsa held on to its one-run edge. In the bottom half, Tulsa would scratch out another run in the third inning to extend the lead to 2-0.
For the third time in four innings, Penn State would load the bases with a singles by Mary Ostman (Northbrook, Ill.) and Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) Ostman would be out on a fielder's choice by Shannon Hutchinson (Sewell, N.J.). Yao would walk to load the bases, but PSU couldn't score Hutchinson from third.
In the bottom of the fourth, Hill gave up a home run, which ended her day as Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) came in relief to limit the damage and a 3-0 Tulsa lead. Akamine would finish the game with three scoreless innings allowing just a lone hit and a walk with two strikeouts.
The Nittany Lion bats were silent for the final three innings and Penn State dropped its third game in four tries. Penn State tried to muster a rally in the seventh as Johnson and Collett drew walks with one out, but PSU couldn't capitalize. Hill took her first loss of the season after giving up three runs, while Tulsa's Lacey Middlebrooks earned the win with five scoreless innings despite four hits against and five walks allowed.
Penn State falls to 3-2 against Tulsa after splitting this weekend with the Golden Hurricane. The Nittany Lions defeated Tulsa 3-1 on Friday morning.
The Nittany Lions will return to the diamond on Saturday when they take part in the Carolina Classic hosted by UNC. Penn State opens with Florida International at 11:00 a.m. before taking on Georgetown at 1:00 p.m. in Chapel Hill, N.C. Penn State will provide live stats through GameTracker on GoPSUsports.com and commentary updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PSULionSoftball.
--NITTANY LIONS--