Bison blurbs key lady sluggers win

LEWISBURG -- Yesterday the Penn State softball team received more gifts than birthdays and Christmas put together.

All Bison coach Terrie Greib could do after the games was shake her head about her team's performance on defense.

"We just couldn't field the ball today," she said. "I thought we were over it. Those (Penn State) base runners should not have even been on base, but they were because of our errors."

The Lady Lions (19-11) quickly took advantage of poor fielding in the top of the first in game one. Marisa Marucci grounded to Bucknell shortstop Jenny Snyder who promptly threw wildly past first allowing Jen McIntyre and Shannon Salsburg to score easily.

After putting up single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, Penn State built its largest lead in the fifth thanks to more Bison miscues. Anje Schwab and Jen Accordino scored on another throwing error by Snyder.

Schwab had a very productive day both on the mound and in the batter's box. She finished the day 4-for-4 with two doubles. She also pitched a complete game and struck out two.

"It was nice to get some cuts in," Schwab said. "I just do what I can for the team. I'm a pitcher first but I like being a hitter, too. My job is to keep my team in the ball game and that's what I did today."

Snyder paced Bucknell (5-17) at the plate with two hits and two RBIs. Stacey Waite took the loss for the Bison, allowing 15 hits in seven innings. Only two of Waite's seven runs given up were earned.

The defense was not much better for Bucknell in the second game. After taking a 1-0 lead, the Bison allowed Misty Hackett and Jen Accordino to reach base in the top of the third. Another error put Hackett at third base and she got the green light from Lady Lion coach Robin Petrini and stole home. Marucci did the same in a two-run fourth.

Petrini said after the game, "I don't think they're used to people stealing bases on them like that."

Salsburg and Marucci each finished with two runs scored in game two, and catcher Andrea Shebest hit a two-run single in the fifth.

Jen Hippo went the distance for Penn State, striking out four and walking one. All six runs Bison pitcher Melanie Kulis gave up in the second game were unearned. Kulis walked three and hit a batter.

Penn State also committed its share of errors during the doubleheader. The Lady Lions had six, which did not lead to big innings. Petrini said though it was not the prettiest of wins, like any gift she said the team will take them.

"We came in expecting to beat this team. It would have been a downer to lose these kinds of games," she said. "But we're taking care of business and beating the teams we should."