March 13, 2011
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Penn State softball team ended its Spring Break trip on a high note, defeating Belmont, 4-0, on a sunny Sunday morning at Mewborn Field. Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) paced the Nittany Lions with a 2-for-3 outing, driving in two runs with a pair of doubles. Starting pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) fired a one-hit, six-inning performance for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State (11-8) jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the second when Danee Collett (Rogersville, Tenn.) led off with a single and was sacrificed to second, eventually scoring on a Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) single to center, her first RBI of the season. Lauren Yao (Los Angeles, Calif.) would reach by error putting runners on the corners before Liz Presto (Bethlehem, Pa.) notched her first collegiate RBI on a grounder to short for a two-run margin. Bell would further extend the lead with an RBI double to right field scoring Presto and allowing Penn State a 3-0 lead.
Following a scoreless third, Mary Ostman (Northbrook, Ill.) kick started the offense in the fourth inning with an infield single, effectively turning the lineup over to Bell. The sophomore centerfielder lined a double scoring Ostman from first base for a four-run PSU lead.
Belmont's (5-14) best opportunity to score came in the opening frame when Becca Gift was hit with a 2-out pitch. Ashley Byers followed up with a double to put runners on second and third, but Akamine worked her way out of the jam with a grounder to second to prevent any damage. Akamine's line read six innings pitched with one hit, the Byers double, while striking out eight Bruins and walking two others. Freshman Jordan Wheatley (Troy, Mich.) capped the game with a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout.
Four different Nittany Lions--Bell, Collett, Hill and Ostman--¬had multi-hit games as Penn State had nine for the ball game. PSU also knocked four doubles including one by Yao.
Penn State finished the SpringHill Suites Buckhead Classic with a record of 3-1. Georgia Tech (2-0) plays Belmont (0-3) and Georgia State (1-2) to round out the tournament, while Bowling Green finished with a 2-2 mark. For Spring Break, Penn State went 7-3 including a perfect 3-0 weekend at the Buzz Classic to open the trip.
PSU will open play at the highly competitive Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. on Thursday against nationally ranked foes Arizona State and Fresno State. Nittany Lion softball games will have live stats coverage through GameTracker as well as commentary and analysis on Twitter (www.twitter.com/PSULionSoftball).
--NITTANY LIONS--