University Park, PA, April 5, 2002 The Penn State softball team lost 5-4 to Minnesota on Friday evening at snow-covered Nittany Lion Field. The Nittany Lions fall to 2-3 in the Big Ten and 16-16 on the season. The Golden Gophers advanced to 25-11 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.

The game remained scoreless through three innings and a sky of snow flurries. In the top of the fourth inning the snow picked up so intensely that a fifteen-minute delay stopped play. When play resumed the Nittany Lions got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth thanks to two consecutive doubles by junior Kelley Galigher (Pleasanton, Calif./ Foothill) and sophomore Erica Greenberg (Irvine, Calif./ Calvary Chapel). Galigher doubled to center field and then Greenberg hit an almost identical shot to send her home. Freshman Scarlett Neal (Huntington Beach, Calif./ Edison) pinch ran for Greenberg and later scored on an error by Minnesota. At the end of four innings the Lions took the lead 2-0.

The Gophers quickly answered back when with bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, junior Veronica Roberts tripled to left field and then scored on a throwing error by Penn State¡¯s Megan Humphrey (San Diego, Calif./Mount Carmel). That put the Gophers up 5-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Penn State junior Erin Norton (Orange, Calif./ El Modena) singled to shortstop to get on base for the Lions. After stealing second and advancing to third base on a wild pitch, she was sent home by junior Megan Humphrey (San Diego, Calif./Mount Carmel), who doubled to left field. Humphrey then scored what was to Penn State¡¯s final run of the game when hit in by junior Kelley Galigher (Pleasanton, Calif./ Foothill).

The score remained 5-4 through two more hard-fought innings played in intense wind & snow. Minnesota¡¯s Piper Marten got her third save of the season as the Golden Gophers held on to win by a final of 5-4. Nittany Lion pitcher Marisa Hanson (Victoria, Txs./ Victoria) fell to 8-6 on the season.

The series between Penn State and Minnesota continues tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, with game two to be held at 1:00 pm at Nittany Lion field, weather permitting.

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