Friday, April 3, 1998
Lady sluggers swoop into Iowa on heels of two tough defeats
By DONNIE COLLINSCollegian Sports Writer
From the opening pitch of the first game to the final pitch of
the second Wednesday, the Penn State Lady Lion softball team played
No. 2 Michigan hard.
And despite two losses, it played them well.
This weekend, another nationally ranked conference opponent awaits the Lions when they travel to Iowa to battle the No. 20 Lady Hawkeyes for three games -- another doubleheader tomorrow and a single game on Sunday.
Penn State center fielder Jodie Ricciardi squares up for a bunt against Wisconsin on March 28 at Lady Lion eld. The Lady Lions travel to play No. 20 Iowa for a three-game set in Iowa City beginning tomorrow. (Collegian Photo/Christa Rimonneau - click for full size image)
"I think we should have pretty good confidence going into
Iowa," Petrini said.
Iowa opened the Big Ten portion of its schedule last weekend in
disappointing fashion -- dropping three games to Michigan State.
In spite of their recent string of success, the Lions expect a
tough showing from the Hawkeyes (15-9, 0-3).
"We're going to expect three tough games from Iowa,"
tri-captain Jen McIntyre said. "But we've played well all
week. We're going to expect to play well and take some games from
Iowa."
Last season Iowa outscored its opponents by more than 270 runs,
389-117, while compiling a team ERA of 1.21. Offensively, the
team slugged a school-record 35 homers and broke a total nine
individual records.
But the Hawkeyes lost six players from last year's squad which
made a trip to the Women's College World Series. The Hawkeyes,
one of the premier softball programs in the nation in the '90s,
this year find themselves lacking experience, if not talent, as
they delve into their Big Ten schedule.
But one player who Iowa still has at its disposal is last year's
Big Ten Player of the Year Debbie Bilbao. The senior pitcher went
30-5 last season and was 14-0 in the Big Ten with a 1.20 ERA.
This year, Bilbao began Big Ten play with a 10-4 record and an
even lower 1.09 ERA.
But the resurgent Lion offense could pose a threat to Bilbao's
success. Sophomore outfielder Karen Gulini leads the team with
a .368 average, and her 13 stolen bases are second to junior center
fielder Jodie Ricciardi's 21. First baseman Shannon Salsburg leads
the team with three homers.
On the hill, sophomore Jaci Kalp and freshman Tanis Ambelang lead
the Lions with four wins apiece.
With a boost of confidence following the Michigan games, the Lions
now have the mindset that any game is winnable.
"We know we can play the game," McIntyre said. "(Michigan) showed us we can play with any team in the country. We're a team to be reckoned with."
