Lady Lions open 0-1 in 2019 campaign
By: Matylda Zamudio
LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — The Penn State Beaver women's softball team lost 2-0 in its first game of the season to Onley Central CC on Monday night in the Fast Pitch Dreams spring training event.
The game began with Onley Central CC's first batter reaching first on an error. However, Beaver then struck out Onley Central CC's second batter. Still at the top of the first, Onley Central CC ended its turn at bat after Beaver made an in-field double play and force a third out.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when two early hits prompted Onley Central CC to earn a run and Beaver to trail 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Lions loaded their bases and looked like they would land on the board after an error by Onley Central CC's first baseman allowed Senior Brittany Zahn (New Brighton) to reach first, advance senior Brenna Cepull (Monaca/Central Valley) to second and advance Senior Brittany Garza (La Feria) to third. But Beaver racked up a third out before on the next attempt at bat (1-0).
Each team went scoreless the next two innings, but Onley Central CC got another run over Beaver in the top of the seventh, handing the team a 2-0 loss.
Senior Vanessa Jackson (Snohomish), who pitched a complete game, had a respectable performance with six strikeouts from the 31 batters she faced. Jackson also only allowed seven hits and two runs over seven innings.
On offense, Cepull, senior Dina Cable (Mannington/ Salem County Vo Tech) and senior Carley Schroeder (Freedom) each tallied up a hit for Beaver.
After today's match, Beaver is 0-1 overall for the season.
The Lady Lions return on Tuesday, Mar. 5 to face off against Anna Maria College in day two of the Fast Pitch Dream spring training event at North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. The game starts at 1:30 p.m.