Penn State Softball Seeks To Improve In Big Ten Play Against Rutgers
Penn State softball will aim to better its Big Ten record this weekend at home in a condensed three-game series against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
The Nittany Lions have struggled against Big Ten opponents to start the season, winning just two of 11 games so far. The wins came against Minnesota and Iowa earlier this season, but the blue and white have yet to break a five-game losing streak.
Most recently, Penn State took on Ohio State in a doubleheader at Beard Field. In game one, an early lead for the Nittany Lions wasn’t enough to earn them the victory as they lost 9-5. The second game went down in similar fashion for the blue and white as the Buckeyes capitalized on an early 3-0 lead to earn the 4-1 win.
Despite the losses, shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison put up a standout performance for Penn State, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. In the circle, Bailey Parshall pitched a combined seven innings, giving up just five hits and three earned runs for the blue and white. She also added 10 strikeouts to the impressive showing.
Rutgers has started Big Ten play off with a 7-4 record, although it lost two straight to Ohio State on April 8 and 9 following a win on April 7 in Columbus.
In the first game of the series, the Scarlet Knights mounted an impressive comeback after falling 5-0 in the second inning. A three-run home run by Payton Lincavage tied the game in the fourth inning, and she added on a solo shot in the sixth to give Rutgers the eventual 6-5 victory. It was the 30th win for the Scarlet Knights, marking their first 30-win season since 2013.
The following two games of the series didn’t go as favorably for Rutgers.
On Saturday, an early 2-1 lead wasn’t enough to earn the Scarlet Knights a victory. The Buckeyes tallied runs in the fifth and sixth inning to win the game 3-2.
The two teams played another close battle on Sunday that was decided in extra innings. Lincavage put up her fourth home run of the weekend series and the Scarlet Knights ahead 2-0. Ohio State came back to tie the game in the fourth, and the Buckeyes won the game in the bottom of the ninth as Melina Wilkison ran home for the 4-3 victory.
The last time Rutgers and Penn State faced off, the blue and white bested the Scarlet Knights winning two of three games in the series. The Nittany Lions opened the weekend with a 4-3 nailbiter before following that up with an 8-0 beatdown.
Rutgers managed to avoid the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the final game. Historically, Penn State has gotten the better of the Scarlet Knights with a 35-28 record overall.
The doubleheader will kick off on Friday at 4:30 p.m., followed by a game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Beard Field.
Cailey Thalman is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email cmt6182@psu.edu.
