Penn State Takes The Rubber Match of the Series Against Indiana
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball’s offense came alive in the final game against Indiana.
On Sunday, the Nittany Lions took the rubber match of the series by a score of 8-6.
Indiana got off to a quick start with Cora Bassett hitting a leadoff double and was brought home by Brianna Copeland’s sac fly.
Ally Kurland wasted no time to answer, smashing a two-run home run to put Penn State in the lead.
Penn State’s Bailey Parshall would settle down in the second inning by getting three quick outs, including a strikeout.
Maggie Finnegan gave the crowd a lift with a leadoff triple in the thid, which then led to an Indiana pitching change as Brianna Copeland took over. In the ensuing moments, Finnegan was brought home on a sac fly by Lexi Black.
Indiana couldn’t get anything going as Parshall retired the side in the third.
Kurland would then strike again with another home run to add onto the lead and ensure that Penn State put up a run in every inning so far.
Grayson Radcliffe walked in the fourth to break up a streak of eight batters retired by Parshall.
Brittany Ford then hit a two-run home run to bring the score within one and get the offense rolling for Indiana.
Penn State caught a break as Cassie Lindmark picked off Tatum Jones at third to end the inning.
Finnegan continued to get on base with a double and Black once again brought her in, except this time, it was with a home run to give Penn State a 6-3 lead.
Black usually hits near the top of the order for Penn State, but this time she was dropped down towards the back end of the order.
“We needed her to have good at bats and typically if you’re down in the order you’re going to get better pitches to hit and she did,” head coach Clarisa Crowell said. “She had a great day and I think she came out refocused and feeling good about what she was going to do”
The ninth hitter Lydia Coleman continued to hit and knock Copeland out of the game.
Lindmark wasted no time with the new pitcher and hit an RBI single to make the score 7-3.
Michelle Leone added another run with a single to make it 8-3 and a total of four runs scored in the fourth inning.
“I gotta give our offense a ton of credit because we hit, had eight runs on 10 hits and honestly we were having quality at bats all day,” Crowell said.
Brooke Benson began to chip away at the lead after she hit a leadoff home run off Parshall to make it 8-4.
Indiana loaded the bases against Parshall with no outs and scored just one run after a Radcliffe groundout.
Heather Johnson responded by shutting down the top of the Penn State order while Bassett led off with a home run to bring the score within two.
Parshall settled down and finished off the complete game and Penn State secured the victory, 8-6.
James Morrison is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
