Lady sluggers lose 1, come back

By LAWRENCE R.V. POTTER
Collegian Sports Writer

In the Penn State softball team's first four home games of the season, the Lady Lions' two victories have been by one run, both courtesy of a last-inning rally.

Such is life for the Lady Lions --games which include every possible feeling and emotion except boredom.

Under sunny skies and in cold temperatures, the Lady Lions split two games against Northwestern on Saturday. The Wildcats took the first game 7-2, while the Lady Lions rallied to win the nightcap, 5-4 in eight innings. The doubleheader yesterdaywas canceled because of snow and will be played at 11 a.m. today at Lady Lion Field.

Because of Big Ten policy, even though both games were held at Lady Lion Field, Penn State (13-12, 2-4 Big Ten) was the visiting team in the second contest. And because of that, Northwestern (11-9, 1-1) had one last chance to snatch victory away from Penn State.

But that did not happen.

After seven complete innings, the teams were tied at four. With one out in the top of the eighth, Lady Lion right fielder Jennifer Accordino walked and worked her way over to third base just before pinch hitter Rebecca Wisnoff came to the plate.

Wisnoff smacked the ball halfway between the right fielder and the first baseman. The ball landed safely in the grass, and before any Wildcat fielder could reach it, Accordino had crossed home plate and Wisnoff stood on second.

"Originally, I was supposed to lay down the suicide squeeze and I missed it," Wisnoff, a senior co-captain said. "So I had no choice --I had to get a hit to get the run in. It was basically a job I had to do."

Working with the slim cushion in the bottom of the inning, Penn State pitcher Anje Schwab gave up two hits and struck out two before inducing Wildcat second baseman Katie Ballman to ground out to end the game.

Schwab preserved the Lady Lion victory by allowing only four hits and giving up no runs in five innings of work in relief of starter Jen Hippo.

Leading the offense in the win was Accordino -- who had one hit and two RBIs -- and Misty Hackett, Jenny McIntyre and Cathy Boyd, who each had two hits in the contest. Overall, the Lady Lions pounded out 10 hits.

In game one, the Lady Lions committed four errors and could not conquer the pitching of Northwestern freshman hurler Misty Lauby. Both factors led to the 7-2 Wildcat victory. Lauby allowed only two runs on two hits and struck out six Lady Lions in the game.

"I think that it's a tribute to my kids to be able to come back after pretty much being decimated in the first game and put themselves back in this one," Coach Sue Rankin said. "After being down 3-0 in the first inning, they could have just rolled over and played dead. And they did not -- they came back."

Note:

-- In the eighth inning of game two, Northwestern Coach Sharon Drysdale protested the home-plate umpire's call. Lady Lion center fielder Susannah Forde attempted bunt, but the ball hit her while she was running to first base.

The umpire called the ball foul, and Forde continued the at bat after Drysdale voiced her protest. Although Forde was subsequently thrown out at first base after another bunt attempt, the Big Ten office will review the protest at a later date. The results of the review may or may not have an effect on the way the game stands now.