Lady Lions make it two in a row

By Bert DeSalvo, staff writer

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 

Myrtle Beach, SC - The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions scored early and used stellar defense in the late innings to hold off Penn State Altoona, 3-2, at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

The Lady Lions got on the scoreboard in the first inning on an Ashley Watkins (Seneca Valley High School/Cranberry Township, PA) solo homer to left field. Sophomore Korey Freyermuth (Perry Traditional Academy/Pittsburgh, PA) led off the second inning with a solo blast of her own to left field, giving Beaver a 2-0 advantage.

Altoona responded with a second inning solo homer off of starting pitcher Alyssa Carver (New Brighton High School/New Brighton, PA), making the game 2-1.

However, Carver led the third inning off with a single and stolen second and home to make the score 3-1 in favor of Beaver. Altoona once again responded in their half of the third inning, plating an unearned run. 

Altoona threatened in the fifth inning with Beaver clinging to a slim 3-2 lead. Altoona led the inning off with a leadoff double and looked poised to score. However, Beaver's Myranda Raymond (Breashear High School/Pittsburgh, PA) snared a liner in leftfield to get the first out. After a pop out to the shortstop for the second out, Altoona hit a single to leftfield and was in prime position to tie the game.

However, Raymond relayed the ball to home plate, and catcher Jamie Karpinski (Quigley Catholic High School/Beaver, PA) threw the ball to second baseman Kayla Chambers (South Side Beaver High School/Hookstown, PA) attempting to get the runner going to second. Chambers made a heads-up play and caught the runner who was headed to home in a rundown and nailed her at third base for the innings' final out. 

Chambers continued her solid defensive play with an outstanding catch in the seventh inning off a sharp line drive and ended the game with an assist to earn the 3-2 victory for Beaver.

In the win, Carver picked up her second win of the season (2-0) allowing two runs (1 earned) on seven hits in five innings of work while striking out two Altoona batters. Freyermuth notched her second save of the season as well allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one batter. 

With the win, the Lady Lions (3-2, 0-0 PSUAC) will face Penn State Berks later today at 1:30 p.m. Beaver upended Berks, 6-4, previously in the week.