Ohio State Sweeps Penn State Softball in Doubleheader

Story posted April 3, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Alex Rocco

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After dropping the first game of the doubleheader 2-1 against Ohio State, Penn State looked to bounce back and get back in the win column. However, the Buckeyes had other ideas, as they would come out with a 9-3 victory.

The Nittany Lions now drop to 1-17 on the season while Ohio State moves 11-7.

Coach Clarisa Crowell was not pleased with her team’s effort despite giving credit to the Buckeyes.

“It was a tough day, just as simple as that,” Crowell said. “Ohio State is a good team, but I feel like we could have been better than we were today.”

Leading the charge offensively for the Buckeyes was Sam Hackenbracht, who went 4-4 with six RBIs and two home runs.

Junior Melina Livingston was the Nittany Lions best hitter as she went 2-3 with one RBI and a home run.

“I thought we had great at-bats today and the offense really came together”. Crowell said.

The Buckeye offense got going early as in just the second at-bat of the Meggie Otte took Nittany Lion starting pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter deep making it a 1-0 game.

After a scoreless first inning for Penn State, Ohio State would extend their lead as Hackenbracht hit her first home run on the day giving the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions cut the deficit to just one after sophomore Kaitlyn Morrison singled scoring Livingston.

After Lingenfelter gave up runs in the first two innings coach Crowell went to her bullpen in just the third inning of the game. Coach Crowell entrusted Vanessa Oatley to keep the Nittany Lions in this game.

However, Oatley also struggled in the circle as Ashley Prange hit an RBI double scoring Otte and Hackenbracht hit her second home run extending the Buckeye lead to 5-1.

The runs would just keep on coming for the Buckeyes as in the fifth inning Hackenbracht would continue her career day as she singled which scored two breaking this game wide open and giving the Buckeyes a 7-1 lead.

The Nittany Lions tried their best to come back as in the fifth inning Chelsea Bisi hit an RBI single and in the sixth inning Livingston took Ohio State starting pitcher Allison Smith deep cutting the Buckeye lead to just 7-3.

Penn State was gaining momentum only down four heading into the last inning but Hackenbracht looked to extend her team's lead and that's exactly what she did, getting an RBI single. That single was her fourth hit of the game and her sixth RBI.

The Buckeyes would tack on one more when Kaitlyn Coffman hit a single driving in Hackenbracht and making it a 9-3 game.

The Nittany Lions would go quietly in the seventh and the game ended 9-3 as the Buckeyes came out victorious.

When asked about what the team needs to improve on, coach Crowell said this “I think we have to put all three facets of the game together,” Crowell said. “In order for us to win, we have to come out, compete, play with a lot of energy and find a way to play a complete game.”

The Nittany Lions will look to bounce back tomorrow as they take on these same Buckeyes.

Alex Rocco is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email afr5646@psu.edu.