Lady Lions are back to winning ways

By Bert DeSalvo, staff writer

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Myrtle Beach, SC - The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions took just a few hours to get back to their winning ways, beating Wentworth Institute of Technology's Lady Cougars, 5-2, in the second day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

The Lady Lions got on the scoreboard in the first inning as sophomore Alyssa Carver (New Brighton High Schoo/New Brighton, PA) started the offensive attack with a hit, stolen base and then scored a run on a sacrifice by Ashley Watkins (Seneca Valley High School/Cranberry, PA). 

Starting pitcher Kayla Chambers (South Side Beaver High School/Hookstown, PA) was in control throughout the day as she struck out the side in the second inning and two more batters in the third. However, Beaver squandered a scoring opportunity in the third inning, leaving Carver stranded at third base and keeping Beaver in the lead by a slim 1-0 score. The Lady Cougars used this momentum to tie the score at 1-1 in the fourth and later take the lead, 2-1, in the sixth. 

Nevertheless, Beaver responded with four runs in their half of the sixth inning as Carver, Watkins, Korey Freyermuth (Perry Traditional Academy/Pittsburgh, PA) and Myranda Raymond (Brashear High School/Pittsburgh, PA) each scored in the inning. Watkins provided a one-out double to tie the game and also slide into home to give Beaver the lead which they never relinquished.

Chambers struck out two of the three batters she faced in the seventh inning to secure the win for the Lady Lions.

On the day, Chambers (1-1, 0 saves) allowed two earned runs, walked just one batter, and struck out 11 Lady Cougars in earning her first win of the season.

Offensively, Carver scored two runs and reached base all three times (single, two walks). Watkins and Freyermuth each had RBI doubles in the sixth.

With the win, the Lady Lions are back to the .500 mark on the year (2-2, 0-0 PSUAC) and will face Penn State Altoona at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 9.