Lady sluggers leave Florida with wins

The improvement for the Penn State softball team is continuing under first-year coach Robin Petrini. The Lady Lions went 6-4 during their spring break trek through Florida.

Petrini said even though Penn State lost some close games last week, her team was in nearly all of them. She said the Lady Lions confidence is steadily improving.

"I think our team is feeling pretty good about itself," Petrini said. "They're doing what I ask of them and they're playing well."

Penn State (9-5) began its week last Sunday with a doubleheader split of Iowa State. The Lady Lions lost the first game 6-0 but came back to win the second game, 4-2.

Sara Henick took the loss in the first game giving up four runs on six hits in five and one-third innings. The Lady Lions had their opportunities, but left runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings.

The second game against Iowa Statebegan just the opposite than the first. Penn State scored four runs in the top of the first on RBI singles by Jen McIntyre and Karolyn Peterson and a two-run triple by Brandi Conti. Freshman Jaci Kalp struck out eight in the win.

The next day saw more victories came the Lady Lions way. Penn State needed 10 innings to take care of Ball State 5-4, then Indiana State was the victim of a 5-1 loss to the Lady Lions.

Penn State took a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning but the Lady Cardinals scored three runs to tie the game off starter Anje Schwab. Henick and Kalp shut the door in relief with Kalp pitching an inning and two-thirds for the win.

"That was the most emotion we put into a game," Petrini said of the Lady Lion effort during the win over Ball State. "It was a great team victory.

Last Tuesday was another doubleheader on the schedule for Penn State. East Carolina needed eight innings to defeat the Lady Lions 4-3, but Kalp threw her second complete game in two days, a 6-0 shutout.

Schwab gave up a home run in the bottom of the eight to give East Carolina the win. Petrini said there was not an outfield fence for Penn State's games against the Lady Pirates. She said hits, which would have been just doubles had there been a fence, turned into home runs for East Carolina in the first game.

In the second game, Penn State scored all six of its runs in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Randi Larson got the offense going for the Lady Lions with an RBI and a run scored in the inning.

Wednesday afternoon saw Penn State have its toughest challenge, No. 11 South Florida. After a tightly played contest, the Lady Lions found themselves on the short end of a 2-0 decision.

Petrini said South Florida coach Ken Eriksen got quite a scare from her club.

"We definitely threatened them," she said. "I'm sure he (Eriksen) was glad to get a 2-0 win and get out of there.

Later that afternoon Penn State got back on the winning track with a 4-2 win over Boston University. The Lady Lions were down 2-1 in the seventh inning, but a three-run home run by Shannon Salsburg lifted Penn State to the win.

Virginia took two close games on Friday from Penn State, 3-2 in nine innings and 2-1. Petrini said both games were ones the Lady Lions could have won, but let get away.

The final matchup for Lady Lions was a doubleheader against Stetson University Saturday. Penn State held Stetson to a total of six hits in the two games leading the 4-0 and 2-0 Lady Lion shutouts.

Jen Hippo pitched game one, allowing four hits and striking out six. She was not available for the first two days of the trip because of tendinitis in her pitching shoulder. Henick tossed the other shutout also striking out six. In both games, Stetson did not get a runner past second base.

A key aspect in the offensive arsenal for the Lady Lions has been the stolen base. With over 30 thefts in 10 games, Petrini said she is just taking advantage of her personnel.

"They have really enjoyed it (stealing bases)," Petrini said. "We have lot of people that can run the bases, more that can than can't."