Myrtle Beach, SC – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball Team (2-3, 0-0) ended their Myrtle Beach play with a 5-0 win over Grand Rapids CC on Thursday. Lacie Lautner (Pleasant Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) continued her dominance tossing her first shut out of the season while improving to 2-1 on the year.
Lautner gave up six hits through her seven innings of work and struck out two batters. She was able to change speeds and locations effectively to keep the opposition off-balance throughout the day. The 2017 Penn State University Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year now improves to 2-1 on the season through her first three starts and has walked just one batter in those three starts.
Lautner was helped by the fact that she was pitching with the lead the entire time as PSUGA’s offense struck right away in the top of the first. It was Lautner who would get the offense going driving an RBI triple to the right center field gap to give PSUGA a 1-0 lead. Sydney Frichtman (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton) followed with the first of her four hits on the day driving in Lautner with an RBI single.
The offense continued in the top of the second when PSUGA got three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Hailey Snyder (Connelsville, Pa./Connelsville HS) would then come in to score on a wild pitch and Ayssa Guzzie (Fox Chapel, Pa./Fox Chapel) would lift a sac fly to left to put PSUGA out in front 4-0 after two innings of play. Morgan Greely (Roulette, Pa./Port Allegheny) drove in the final run of the day with an RBI single in the top of the fifth.
The offense came to life for PSUGA collecting 14 hits after collecting a combined 14 hits between two games yesterday. They showed a more patient approach at the plate which allowed them to get into counts where they could find a pitch to drive. The run support helped Lautner to be able to pitch with the lead the entire game and give her the confidence that she needs.
PSUGA will now return home where they will continue regular season play on Saturday March 17th when they play a doubleheader with Carlow at Monroeville Park West. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. followed by the second game at 4 p.m.
