March 12, 2011
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Penn State softball team fell to Georgia Tech, 6-0, on Saturday night at Mewborn Field in the SpringHill Suites Buckhead Classic.
Penn State (10-8) opened on a promising note as Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) led off with a single to left field. After a fielder's choice by Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) put her on first, but she would eventually be thrown out stealing for the final out in the half-inning.
Georgia Tech (15-4) used a pair of two-out solo home runs to give itself some breathing room, the first by Shannon Bear in the opening frame and then Kelsie Weseman in the second inning. The Yellow Jackets would further exhibit their power in the fourth when Kristine Priebe lifted a shot to deep center field for two more runs and a 4-0 advantage. Priebe would hit her second of the game, this time to left field, to cap her four-RBI day.
The Nittany Lions looked to mount a rally in the top of the seventh as Kailyn Johnson (Yorba Linda, Calif.) walked on consecutive pitches giving way to Rachel Myers (Millheim, Pa.) as a pinch runner. Kasie Hatfield (Lutz, Fla.) singled to center to put two runners on, she being substituted for Liz Presto (Bethlehem, Pa.) as a pinch runner. Alyssa Sovereign (La Canada, Calif.) sent an opposite-field single to left to load the bases with nobody out. Relief pitcher Kristen Adkins induced a double play grounder back to the pitcher's plate before a strikeout ended the game for Georgia Tech's eighth straight win.
Penn State's Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) took the loss going 4.1 innings with five strikeouts. Georgia Techs' Hope Rush won her fifth game of the season going five innings allowing just two hits and two walks. Adkins picked up her third save on the year.
Penn State falls to 2-1 during the SpringHill Suites Buckhead Classic behind Georgia Tech (2-0). Bowling Green won both its games today to finish the tournament 2-2, while Georgia State (1-2) and Belmont (0-2) round out the field.
Penn State returns to Mewborn Field tomorrow for a 10:00 a.m. showdown with the Belmont Bruins to close out the tournament. Belmont fell to Bowling Green, 4-2, and Georgia State, 8-1, in Saturday's action. All Nittany Lion games will have live stats coverage through GameTracker as well as commentary and analysis on Twitter (www.twitter.com/PSULionSoftball). Georgia Tech will also be providing live video for each game of the SpringHill Suites Classic as well visit GoPSUsports.com for the link.
--NITTANY LIONS--