Penn State softball can’t get bats going as they lose both games of Ohio State doubleheader
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –-- Penn State Nittany Lions softball took on the Ohio State Buckeyes Tuesday afternoon into the night for a doubleheader. While the Nittany Lions were able to put up a good fight, they were unable to come away with a win from either game.
In game two of the matchup, the Nittany Lions trailed by two or more runs for the entire game as they struggled to get their runners on base to reach home plate, causing them to fall short of the Buckeyes 4-1. In both matchups, Penn State struggled to get runners off the base and get them to home plate.
“We just have to execute our plans better,” head coach Clarisa Crowell said. “That is it.”
Early on in the game, in the top of the first inning Ohio State’s Sam Hackenbracht started off strong with a deep ball into left field, sending the ball off the wall, and batting in two runners to take the lead 2-0. Hackenbracht put up the third run for Ohio State with a bomb over the centerfield wall in the top of the fourth inning.
Penn State was scoreless up until the bottom of the sixth inning. Maggie Finnegan came up with a huge hit to center field off the center field wall, allowing Kaitlyn Morrison to reach home plate.
Cassie Lindmark, the starting catcher for the Nittany Lions, had a fantastic batting night against the Buckeyes. Lindmark had four at-bats and was able to get a hit from two of the four.
“I am just playing the game and having fun,” Lindmark said. “I think that is what everyone on the team is doing for the most part.”
Penn State has been struggling to pick up wins in Big Ten games, as they are currently 12th within the conference. Lindmark is confident in her team, and she believes that wins will start coming their way.
“I think we are just getting the short end of the stick right now,” Lindmark said. “We are really grinding through, and we will find success and the ball will fall.”
The Nittany Lions have done a great job of getting their players on base; however, they haven’t been able to capitalize on it. Coach Crowell is confident that if her team stays on their game plan, they will be able to turn that narrative around.
“We talk about finding ways to get on base, I thought we did a really good job of that,” Crowell said. “We unfortunately just did not get those timely hits today.”
This upcoming Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Nittany Lions will attempt to switch up the narrative as they have Big Ten series against Rutgers and look to get back in the win column.
Maddie Bader is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email madelinegbader@gmail.com
