Penn State Softball Offense Explodes in Rout of UMass Lowell

Story posted March 20, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Justin Ciavolella

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State defeated UMass Lowell 12-2 Saturday evening following an offensive outburst.

Penn State, who scored a combined five runs in its two victories in Friday afternoon’s doubleheader, was able to put runners in scoring position early and often in the contest.

Coach Clarisa Crowell credited the offensive outburst to the change in pace of pitchers.

“Yesterday the pitching was a little bit on the slower side and we tend to hit a little better when it's a little faster,” Crowell said. “Our kids came into this game really just locked in.”

The blue and white loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning against Chelsea Runyon, but a Michelle Leone strikeout and Lilia Crouthamel flyout ended the threat.

UMass Lowell did the same against Kylee Lingenfelter in the next frame, but it was able to capitalize on the opportunity.

Lingenfelter recorded a strikeout of Maria Moccio after loading the bases with zero outs in the inning. The nine-hole hitter, Tori Mueller, came to the plate with zero RBIs on the season, but drove in her first two runs of the season for the River Hawks.

Lingenfelter rebounded and struck out the final two hitters of the inning, but was replaced by Lydia Spalding to start the third inning of play.

In the bottom of the inning, the offense came to the relief of Lingenfelter with a three-run home run off the bat of Ally Kurland. Kurland continues to provide for the Nittany Lion offense as this was her eighth home run of the season.

“We all fed off each other after the home run,” Kurland said. “Everyone else was starting to put good bats on the ball and we just kind of found it later on.”

Following a scoreless top of the third inning, Lexie Black, the Nittany Lion first baseman, sent one over the fence in the deepest part of the ballpark for a 4-2 lead.

Lilia Crouthamel followed up the home run by Black with a double that knocked out Runyon after just 2.1 innings of play. Crouthamel was one of two runners that came around to score when Melody Coombs was able to reach on an error and complete Runyon’s stat line with four earned runs.

Cassie Lindmark drove in another and Penn State held a 7-2 lead after three innings of play.

Vanessa Oatley brought a lot of energy to the mound to start the fourth and was able to work around some trouble to keep UMass Lowell off the board.

Penn State loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Patience was the key against Kaylie See as two walks led to two runs. Kurland and Lindmark each provided another run for Penn State who led 12-2 after four innings of play.

Oatley worked fast in the top of the fifth inning and retired the River Hawks quickly to end the game by virtue of the mercy rule. Oatley received the win in her first game of the season.


Justin Ciavolella is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu.