RELEASE DATE: 3/12/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Softball bounces back from first loss of season with 16-2 win over Penn State – Altoona

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Freshman Melissa Baer (Williamsport/Williamsport) allowed just one hit over four innings to lead Mansfield to a 16-2 win over Penn State – Altoona in the second game of the day at the Snowbird Invitational in Myrtle Beach, FL Wednesday.

Mansfield suffered its first defeat in six games this season earlier in the day in a 2-0 setback to Sweet Briar College (VA).

In the nightcap, Baer picked up her second straight win allowing one hit and no runs over the first four innings before being relieved in the fifth inning. The freshman struck out four batters and walked three.

After being held scoreless in the opener, the Mountaineers exploded for seven runs in the first inning and pounded out 16 hits in improving to 5-1 overall.

Gabriella Carrullo (Chalfont/Center Bucks South) led the offensively going 3-4 from the plate and driving in three runs. Freshman Megan Trutt (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg) went 3-3 with an RBI and senior Shana Markwis (Milford/Delaware Valley) tripled and drove in two runs.

In the opener, Sweet Briar scored both runs in the first inning on solo home runs. Mansfield had runners on base in every inning but couldn’t push across a run despite outhitting Sweet Briar 6-4.

Senior Lindsey Knapp (Millerton/Notre Dame) threw well in the loss, giving up just four hits over seven innings while striking out seven and walking one. Markwis and Jen Stein (Williamsport/Williamsport) each had two hits.

Mansfield wraps up its stay in Myrtle Beach on Thursday hosting Penn State – Altoona and Charleston.

GAME ONE

Sweet Briar         200         000         0              2-4-3
Mansfield            000         000         0              0-6-0

Sweet Briar (4-8): Megan Franklin (W) and Brittany Berry
HR – Barry, Ellie Witt       RBI – Barry, Witt

Mansfield (4-1): Lindsey Knapp (L, 1-1) and Jen Messner

GAME TWO

PSU- Altoona     000         02           2-2-3
Mansfield            720         7x           16-14-0

PSU – Altoona (2-7): Callie Lyle (L), Lindsey Laudermilch (2), Emily Cummins (4) and Kara Myers
HR – Lyle              RBI – Lyle 2

Mansfield (5-1): Melissa Baer (W, 2-0), Gabriella Carrullo (5) and Jen Stein, Kristina Poore (2)
2b – Sarah Cullen, Megan Trutt, Danielle Kiernan              3b – Shana Markwis
RBI – Currullo 3, Ashley Gaisser 2, Markwis 2, Janelle Antes, Amanda Lewis, Trutt, Nicole Yost, Kiernan, Cullen