2005 Big Ten Softball Tournament -- Game 3 Notes & Quotes
5/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2005 Big Ten Softball Tournament
#22 Iowa 1, Penn State 0
Game 3 -- Friday, May 13 -- Noon
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
NOTES AND QUOTES
Iowa Notes
The Hawkeyes improved to 18-17 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament ... Iowa defeated Penn State in all three meetings in 2005, winning 3-1, 5-1 and 1-0 ... Starting pitcher Lisa Birocci improved to 27-7 in 31 starts, pitching her 26th complete game ... Birocci pitched her 13th shutout of the season. It was also Iowa's 25th shutout of the season ... Birocci struck out 12 Nittany Lion batters, giving her 250 K's in 2005 and 908 strikeouts in her career ... Birocci hit her seventh home run of the season and her second off Lions pitcher Missy Beseres ... Birocci allowed only one ball to leave the infield (a flyout to centerfield in the sixth), giving up one infield hit, striking out 12 and having her infield retire the rest ... Birocci struck out 11 of the last 15 Penn State betters.
Iowa Head Coach Gayle Blevins
On the game ... "I was very pleased with Lisa's (Birocci) work on the mound and at the plate. She has pitched two great games against Penn State this year and that home run was crucial. We played well on defense against a very tough team in Penn State.
On both team's pitchers ... "Missy (Beseres) is a good pitcher who always has a good game against us. She moves the ball around well and kept us off balance all day. We were fortunate to get Lisa's (Birocci) homer and to load the bases in the fifth."
On Iowa's semifinal game against Northwestern ... "It's a tough match-up. Northwestern is a great hitting team and they can hit the ball all through the lineup. We need to get better quality at-bats against them and bring our defense again. I think it will be a good game."
Senior Pitcher Lisa Birocci
On the game ... "Our offense was asleep out there today but our defense stayed in the game. We needed to pick up our offense but we were sleepwalking through the game. It's tough when you have rain delays and have to battle the elements but we have to improve in our next game."
On Penn State starting pitcher Missy Beseres ... "She's a senior so she knows how to get it done. She throws a good riseball and moves her pitches around a lot. We had the same trouble in the regular season against her but we managed to do just enough to win."
On Iowa's sem-final game against Northwestern ... "We lost two games to them in the regular season so we need to improve to beat them. We need a better offensive performance and get more hits against them. They are a great hitting team, so our defense will have to be strong again later today."
Penn State Notes
Penn State falls to 3-7 vs. ranked opponents in 2005 ... PSU is eliminated in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament for the second straight season. The Nittany Lions fell 1-0 to Illinois in 2004. Penn State's last Big Ten Tournament victory was a 5-3 victory over Illinois in 2002 ... The Nittany Lions fall to 9-10 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament ... Penn State lost all three games to Iowa this season. The Nittany Lions trail the all-time series, 10-33 ... Starting pitcher Missy Beseres gave up just her eighth home run of the season but her second to Iowa's Lisa Birocci ... Beseres struck out seven batters in 4.2 innings, giving her 246 K's in 2005 and 498 strikeouts in her career ... Senior Steph Viola started her first game in rightfield in 2005.
Penn State Head Coach Robin Petrini
On the game ... "Lisa (Briocci) pitched a good game. She kept our bats quiet and they made their hits matter, especially the home run in the second inning."
On Missy Beseres' outing ... "Missy did a nice job out there today. Unfortunately the one hit was the difference, spoling an otherwise good day."
