Lady sluggers impatient for start of season

The consensus on the Penn State softball team is the regular season can't come soon enough.

The Lady Lions played their final scrimmage of the season yesterday in Holuba Hall, outscoring Bloomsburg 7-2 in the 12-inning rehearsal.

Penn State coach Robin Petrini said her club made significant strides in a week and is ready for the regular season to start on Friday at the East Carolina Tournament.

"These kids are ready to go," Petrini said. "They appreciate the fact we're playing more aggressive."

That new aggressiveness was shown early against Bloomsburg. In the bottom of the first, left-handed hitters Jodie Ricciardi and Susannah Forde each tried to bunt for a hit. Ricciardi reached base with Forde advancing her to second.

First baseman Shannon Salsburg singled, putting runners at the corners. Cleanup hitter Karolyn Peterson singled home Ricciardi, sending Salsburg to third. Jen McIntyre then singled home Salsburg and Peterson and took second on the throw to the plate.

Brandi Conti finished the inning with an RBI double, scoring McIntyre and giving Penn State a 4-0 lead.

Petrini said being able to put the ball in play with runners in scoring position was the biggest improvement for the Lady Lions.

"We hit the ball better this weekend, which is always a big difference," Petrini said. "I expect those two (Ricciardi and Forde) to jump start the offense."

Through Penn State's two scrimmages, the pitching staff has given up just three runs in 23 innings. Petrini said once the regular season starts she will have a true sense of where her pitching staff is. During the scrimmages no pitcher has gone more than four innings.

"It will be interesting to see how they do when we give them a few more innings," Petrini said. "They're ready to pitch six or seven innings at a time."

Since weather in State College was unseasonably warm this past week, the team spent significant time outside getting used to playing the wind.

"It was nice to see the ball fly in the air and throw in the wind," Petrini said. "It's very different from the controlled environment (of Holuba Hall), so it was nice to get outside."

The biggest improvement the program has made might be finding Petrini to coach. Many of the players agree she has brought a new attitude and brighter days are on the way.

"She's a great motivator and really has brought this team together," McIntyre said. "Everybody's real excited for the season to start."