Nittany Lions Drop Third Straight, Lose Via Mercy Rule to Ohio State

Story posted April 4, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Logan Bourandas

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The bats failed to come alive once again for the Nittany Lions as they only recorded two hits all game long in a 9-0 loss versus Ohio State.

Melody Coombs and Chelsea Bisi were the only two Nittany Lions to get into the hit column as nothing went right for the team after the first pitch.

The game ended in the fifth inning with Penn State down the required eight or more runs. It was the fourth mercy rule this season for the Nittany Lions and the first since March 27.

The pitching wasn’t great as after yesterday’s complete game; Bailey Parshall was taken out after just two innings of action. The Buckeyes hitters quickly adjusted to Parshall’s pitching style as she allowed four runs and six hits with only one strikeout. Parshall was given the loss, bringing her record to 0-9 on the year with a 3.35 ERA.

Even with Logan Black coming in for the rest of the game, Ohio State kept the pressure on. The Buckeyes scored a run in every inning aside from the fifth (which would be the final inning). Nikki Carver led the way with an RBI triple in the first inning and a home run later on in the game—her fourth of the season.

Carver wasn’t the only Buckeye to go deep as Sam Hackenbracht hit a homer in the fourth inning in what was her third homer of this series. She went deep twice in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader.

While nothing went right during the game for the Nittany Lions, there was a great moment before the game as Ohio State associate head coach Jen McIntyre threw the first pitch. McIntyre was a former Penn State softball player from 1995 to 1998. She coached at Happy Valley too before moving on to Ohio State.

This first pitch is part of a season-long celebration as the Nittany Lions honor their alumni with 2021 being the 10-year anniversary of Beard Field. Although this is only her first year at Happy Valley, head coach Clarisa Crowell thought fondly of the moment as the team honors its past.

“Just a great day from the start and being able to recognize coach Jen McIntyre,” Crowell said. “Anytime we can bring our alumni back, that’s a pretty special moment for us. Obviously this weekend has been about our alumnus, so I’m just looking forward to the day where we can bring them all back in.”

The Nittany Lions will have one more game in this four-game series against Ohio State with first pitch scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m.

 

Logan Bourandas is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.

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ohio state , softball