March 2, 2013
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Despite a four-run fifth inning to bring the team within one, Penn State could not pull off the upset of No. 11 LSU and fell, 6-5, Saturday afternoon at the Citrus Classic. Senior Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) accounted for all five RBI with a pair of home runs, including a fifth-inning grand slam, for the Nittany Lions (3-6, 0-0 Big Ten) against the Tigers (16-3, 0-0 SEC).
Penn State resumes play at the Citrus Classic at 9 a.m. Sunday for a showdown with No. 5/9 Texas A&M before closing the tournament by taking on Longwood at 1:30 p.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Nittany Lions dropped a 3-0 decision to Hofstra to open the tournament Saturday morning.
Jordan Wheatley (Troy, Mich.) tossed her first complete game of the year, allowing just eight hits in 6.0 innings. The junior, who did not allow a single earned run against the Tigers, struck out a pair in the effort. Three Nittany Lions posted multi-hit games, led by Bell's double and two home runs. Lauren Yao (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Shannon Hutchinson (Sewell, N.J.) both recorded two hits apiece, while Hutchinson, Alyssa Renwick (Laurens, S.C.) and Alicia Walker (Los Alamitos, Calif.) each scored one run.
LSU's Ashley Czechner (4-0) picked up the win with her 7.0-inning production. The trio of A.J. Andrews, Jacee Blades and Allison Falcon combined to post six of LSU's seven hits at the top of the lineup.
The Tigers scored all six of their runs through the first four innings with two in each the first, third and fourth, to open a 6-1 lead against Bell's third-inning solo home run.
The Nittany Lions took advantage of nifty bunt work in the top of the fifth to begin their comeback attempt. Hutchinson led off the inning with a single off a bunt to LSU's Hailey Smith at third before Renwick reached on a fielder's choice to the same spot down the left line. Walker then loaded the bases after her bunt down the first base line led to a poor throw from Tiger first baseman Sandra Simmons. In the ensuing at-bat, Bell connected on a 1-1 pitch and sent it well over the wall in right center to bring all four home to a roaring reception from the Nittany Lion dugout.
Penn State made one last charge in the top of the seventh. With one out, the Tigers opted to intentionally walk Bell before Macy Jones (Ashburn, Va.) singled back up the middle, but the two ended the game stranded at first and second as Czechner closed the door on the rally.
The grand slam is the second of the season and makes it back-to-back tournaments for Bell. She also recorded a four-run bomb in the 9-8 win over Iowa State Feb. 24 at the Carolina Classic. Supported by her seven home runs, Bell has already matched her RBI season total from a year ago with 20 through the first nine games while pushing her slugging percentage to 1.500 and extending her hitting streak to 20 games.