May 2, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State softball team split a decision with the Hoosiers falling, 4-3, in the first game before explosive hitting propelled the Lions to a 9-1 victory in the nightcap. Penn State is now 19-25 overall and 7-11 in the Big Ten play while Indiana falls to 10-37 overall and 4-14 in conference. Senior third baseman Shana Madura (Slate Hill, N.Y.) went 4-for-6 on the day while senior first baseman Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) and freshman catcher Danee Collett (Orange, Calif.) each added a home run.
Penn State got started early in the first game of the double header as junior left fielder Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) singled down the left field line. She proceeded to steal second and scored as Kinley singled and advanced to second on the throw.
The Hoosiers bounced back with a big third inning as Ashley Hobbs reached on a double. Heather Nelson then came in to pinch run and advanced to third with a sacrifice. Emily Bergeson then reached on a walk and advanced to third when Kelsey Stander reached on a fielding error. Jennifer Glueckert then doubled to deep center field to drive in Bergeson and Stander before Indiana was retired. The Hoosiers extended their lead in the fifth as Stander reached on a second error and scored on a Glueckert triple.
Penn State rallied in the sixth as freshman designated player Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) singled. Mary Ostman (Northbrook, Ill.) then came in to pinch run as Collett fired her third home run of the season. But no more runs would score as Indiana took the game in the 4-3 decision.
Penn State scored three runs with eight hits while Indiana scored four runs with six hits.
Junior pitcher Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) fanned seven in the loss to become 13-10 in the circle.
The Lions got off to a good start in the nightcap as well. Collet led off with a single through the left side. Ostman then came in to pinch run and worked her way to third with a sinlge by junior shortstop Desi Giordano (West Caldwell, N.J.). Madura then stepped up the plate and ripped a base hit up the middle to score Ostman with an RBI single.
Indiana responded in the bottom of the third when Kristin King singled up the middle. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a Lion fielding error.
Penn State answered in the bottom of the fourth when Giordano singled with two outs. Madura then ripped a single up the middle and advanced when the center fielder fumbled the ground ball which allowed Giordano to score.
The Lions had an explosive sixth as Akamine singled past third base. Collett the ripped a triple down the right field line to score Carnie Smith (New Wilmington, Pa.) who was pinch running. Freshman designated player Ellen McNair (Niceville, Fla.) then sent a ball deep to center field as it bounced off the fence and back into play, giving her a double and scoring Collett. Giordano was then walked before Madura hit a two RBI double to right center. Griffith then grounded out, the first out of the inning, to advance Madura to third before Kinley launched a deep home run to left center. Penn State kept it going as senior second baseman Kayce Zielinski (Arlington, Texas) singled to center field and scored on an Akamine double to left center. With a seven run sixth inning, the Lions run-ruled the Hoosiers to take the game in a 9-1 decision.
Penn State scored nine runs with a season high 15 hits while Indiana scored one run with four hits.
Akamine struck out five, three of whom went down looking, as she took her sixth win in the circle.
The Lions will close out the season at Ohio State next Saturday in Columbus. The double header will begin at 2 p.m. ET.