TAMPA, Fla. - Penn State earned a pair of 3-2 victories over Florida Gulf Coast and USF at the USF Invitational on Thursday.
Kylee Lingenfelter pitched seven innings, giving up just two runs in game one against Florida Gulf Coast. Bailey Parshall and Vanessa Oatley shined in the circle during game two. Oatley did not allow a hit or walk in her three innings of work while Parshall allowed two runs.
At the plate, Emily Maddock had the game winning pinch hit single for the Nittany Lions against FGCU, while Lauren Marcotte singled home two against USF to lift Penn State over the Bulls.
Game 1: Penn State 3, FGCU 2
The Nittany Lions attacked early against FGCU as Melody Coombs and Lydia Coleman both reached base to start the game. They moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Maggie Finnegan hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Coombs to tag up from third and score. The center fielder overthrew the catcher at home plate, allowing Coleman, who moved from second to third on the play to take home and give the Nittany Lions an early 2-0 advantage.
The Eagles tied the game up in the third after placing two runners in scoring position with just one out. Nikki Gibson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home one runner, and the other came home after a Tayli Filla single up the middle.
Each team couldn't manufacture much at the plate after that. For the Nittany Lions, pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter kept the Eagles at bay, while FGCU pitcher Baylee Haggard did much of the same to Penn State.
The Nittany Lions were able to break the tie in the bottom of the sixth after a Lexie Black single. She was replaced by Maddie Gordon as the pinch runner who worked her way to third. Maddock pinch hit for Marcotte looking to plate the winning run. She did just that, pulling the ball between the first and second baseman and giving the Nittany Lions the win.
Game 2: Penn State 3, USF 2
USF got the scoring going in the bottom of the third inning when Emilee Hanlon singled, scoring Tieley Vaughn and putting the Bulls up, 1-0.
The Bulls were able to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Rian Eigenmann singled, bringing home Lauren Bevis who worked her way around the basepaths.
The Nittany Lions responded in the sixth inning after loading up the bases thanks to a couple of walks. Kaitlyn Morrison blasted a ball to the shortstop, who was unable to handle the ball, putting the Nittany Lions on the board. The next batter, Marcotte, singled to left field bringing home two and giving Penn state the lead 3-2.
Oatley, who was brought into the game in the fourth inning, shut the Bulls down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh giving the Nittany Lions a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Next Up
Penn State will continue action at the USF Invitational on Friday, facing off against St. Francis at 11:30 a.m. and Marist at 4:30 p.m.
--Nittany Lions--