Lady sluggers play St. Francis in double header

The Penn State softball team plays its first game north of the Mason-Dixon line when St. Francis visits Penn State for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. today at Lady Lion Field.

Up to this point Penn State has played all of its games in tournaments in Florida or in one of the Carolinas. The team has learned how it plays in the heat, but now it will get to experience the cold.

"Weather will play a factor in the game," Penn State coach Robin Petrini said.

The weather could be more of an opponent for the Lady Lions than the Red Flash. Petrini said the teams played in the fall, and she expects her squad to handle St. Francis with little trouble.

"I expect us to do very well against them," she said. "I would be surprised it they were to upset us."

The Lady Lions are looking to improve their 14-7 record before the Big Ten season gets under way this weekend. Penn State's success this year has been due to a blend of base running, pitching and defense. Petrini said there are a few offensive areas the team needs to improve.

St. Francis is coming off a five-win performance last weekend in a tournament at Radford, where it reached the tourney finals before losing to St. Peter's, 4-3.

"What I expect from my team is to continue the same efforts we've had," St. Francis coach Skip Galayda said. "I think we'll be in the hunt to take a game or two."

The Red Flash suffered its worst loss this season when it lost its top pitcher, Amy Yob, to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Patricia Galayda (5-1) and Erin Gabrielson (1-1) will be on the mound for the Red Flash today.

Coach Galayda feels his pitchers' performance could be keys if his team is to win a game.

"I think the key to any victory is defense," he said. "In this game that means keeping (Penn State first baseman Shannon) Salsburg off base."

Galayda said defense is one area his team has thrived. The Red Flash (6-4) has a .961 fielding percentage and has committed just 12 errors in its 10 games.

St. Francis, though, has more to contend with than just Salsburg. The Lady Lions have received contributions from nearly everyone on the team, and Jen McIntyre made the All-Tournament team last weekend at the Winthrop Invitational.

The Red Flash also have to contend with Penn State's pitching. Anje Schwab, Jaci Kalp, Jennifer Hippo and Sara Henick have all started games for the Lady Lions.

Galayda said he doesn't think the Lions are better than the teams his squad has already played and feels playing Penn State is another chance for the Red Flash to improve.

"I think improvement is only going to come with more and more games," he said. "The more games we play the better we'll get."