Ally Kurland’s Bat Leads Penn State Softball to a Win Over Purdue
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- In the first game of a doubleheader, Ally Kurland carried Penn State to a 7-1 win over Purdue.
Kurland, who was already leading the team in home runs and RBIs, added two more home runs to her total and brought in five runs with the two long balls.
The first home run came after Purdue’s starting pitcher, Alex Echazarreta, hit the leadoff hitter, Cassie Lindmark, in the bottom of the first inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kurland found her pitch on a 3-1 count and hit a bomb to right center field for a three-run homerun.
If it weren’t for Kurland’s offensive performance, Penn State’s ace Bailey Parshall would have taken the show. Parshall threw a complete game where she only gave up one run and struck out seven batters.
Parshall left Purdue’s hitters lost at the plate by switching up speeds on her pitches and by placing her pitches on the edges of the strike zone. She was especially able to make hitters miss by working high in the strike zone.
Echazarreta didn’t have the same control that Parshall had in the circle. She hit three batters, walked two and gave up three runs in just 3.1 innings. Purdue’s relievers weren’t very effective either as they gave up four runs in 2.2 innings.
Echazarreta did continue her hot streak at the plate by hitting her sixth homerun of the season on the first pitch she saw in the top of the second inning.
Penn State’s other two runs came off a blooped RBI single from Lindmark in the bottom of the second inning and a powerful homerun from Liana Jones, which hit the scoreboard in left field in the bottom of the sixth.
Penn State could’ve tacked on more runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the third out was called after pinch runner Claire Swedberg left first base too early on a hit and run.
Purdue’s left side of the infield was making great plays all game which included Olivia McFadden catching a rocket off the bat of Liana Jones to get the Boilermakers out of a jam in the bottom of the third inning.
The game was capped off with a great defensive play by center fielder Lilia Crouthamel. Tyrina Jones hit a deep shot to center field and Crouthamel made the catch to end the game while running into the outfield wall.
After playing the second game of the doubleheader, Penn State and Purdue will play on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the series finale.
Jayson O’Connell is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jbo5216@psu.edu
