There have been many great women athletes and coaches who led Penn State teams to successful seasons, earning conference and national honors in the fifty years since Title IX enactment.  This section displays only a small sampling of images of athletes and coaches who were among the best during their collegiate careers at Penn State.  The collection link below leads to the collection guide and inventory of more than 11,000 men’s and women’s athletes, coaches, and administrators dating back to the 1880s.  Materials in each file may include photos, biographical material, newspaper clippings, and magazine articles for a specific athlete. 

Ashley Esparza 

Ashley Esparza was dual threat for the softball team, playing first base and pitched from 2005 to 2008.  She hit .402 as a freshman and .341 for her collegiate career.  Esparza finished in the top ten in many offensive and pitching categories with 49 wins and 593 strikeouts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathy Kaminski

Cathy Kaminski was a pitcher on the softball team from 1987 to 1989.  She held several school records including 14 wins in a season in 1988. In 1989, Kaminski had 113 strikeouts, 30 complete games, in 31 starts and 214 innings pitched.  She was second in career victories with 37 when she graduated.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missy Beseres 

Missy Beseres was a pitcher on the softball team from 2002, then 2004 to 2006.  She threw two perfect games, both against St. Francis (PA) in 2002 and 2005. Beseres set a school record with 260 strikeouts in her junior year and led the team with 17 wins and then led the team again with 19 wins in her senior year.  She is in the top five for most career records, including first in strikeouts with 745 and second with 53 victories. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat McTarsney

Pat McTarsney was the first coach of the softball team, leading the team from 1965 to 1972 and 1974 to 1980 compiling an 85-66-1 record. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rayne Yori 

Rayne Yori was a pitcher on the softball team from 1979 to 1982.  She threw the first no-hitter in Penn State history against Princeton in 1982. She recorded two seasons with an earned run average (ERA) below 1.00 in 1980 and 1982 and is third in career ERA at 1.32. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin Petrini 

Robin Petrini was the head coach of the softball team from 1997 to 2013 with a record of 489-437-2. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the link to the athlete’s and coaches’ files collection: Pennsylvania State University, Intercollegiate Athletics public relations files