Princeton University Athletics
Softball Falls to Penn State, 3-0 at NCAA Regional Tournament
May 17, 2002 | Softball
May 17, 2002
Minneapolis, Minn. - Costly errors plagued the Tigers as they dropped their final game of the 2002 NCAA Softball Championships to Penn State, 3-0. With the loss, Princeton is eliminated from the tournament and finishes the season at 34-18. Penn State advances in the regional and will face No. 2 Arizona.
Gina Bianchini walked and Mandy Nuxoll was hit by a pitch to put Nittany Lion runners at first and second, with no outs, to open the first inning. An outfield error by Erin Valocsik allowed Bianchini to score. Erin Norton's sac fly scored Nuxoll as Penn State took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Melissa Finley doubled into right-center field, with one out on the board, in the bottom of the second. Mackenzie Forsythe, pinch running for Finley, advanced to third on a single hit by Erin Valocsik. Nicole Davida struck out and Wendy Bingham grounded out to the short stop as Princeton failed to put any runs across the plate. Brie Galicinao led off the bottom of the third with a single to left field. Kristin Lueke reached on a fielder's choice, but Galicinao was caught at second. Kristin Del Calvo singled to right field but Becky Nemec hit a hard line drive to the short stop and Lueke was caught at second in the double play.
Bianchini scored Penn State's third run of the game when she laid down a bunt to Galicinao on the mound. Galicinao threw the ball over the head of first baseman, Del Calvo and Bianchini rounded the bases as the ball rolled into the right field foul territory.
"We just didn't play sharp softball today," said head coach Maureen Davies. "We committed a couple of errors and Penn State deserved to win the game." Reflecting on the season, Davies added, "We have a lot to be proud of and this year's team was the beginning of something great."
Galicinao was the losing pitcher, striking out seven batters and allowing only four hits. Princeton committed two errors on which Penn State scored three runs. Galicinao finishes the tournament at 0-2, allowing only one earned run and striking out 18 batters in two complete games. Galicinao finishes her senior season at 17-9.
Missy Beseres was the winning pitcher for Penn State, improving to 7-4 on the season.
Penn State 3 Princeton 0
Score by innings: R H E ------------------------------------------- Penn State Univ. 200 001 0 - 3 4 0 Princeton University 000 000 0 - 0 5 2 -------------------------------------------
E - Galicinao; Valocsik. DP - Penn State 1. LOB - Penn State 8; Princeton 4. 2B - Finley. SB - Bianchini. SH - Greenberg. SF - Norton.
Penn State Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Skelly, Tina........ 3.0 5 0 0 0 1 13 13 Beseres, Missy...... 4.0 0 0 0 0 2 12 12
Princeton University IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Brie Galicinao...... 7.0 4 3 0 4 7 25 32