UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Aided by the program's first grand slam of the season off the bat of sophomore designated player Maddie Gordon, Penn State softball completed the weekend-series sweep of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with an 8-3 finish Sunday afternoon on Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Following its third-straight win and first weekend sweep of the 2023 campaign, Penn State climbs to 23-13 overall and 5-9 in Big Ten Conference play. The Nittany Lions recorded a sweep of a Big Ten opponent for the first time since dismantling Purdue in a three-game stretch last season on Beard Field. Penn State also managed to extend its lead in the all-time series with Rutgers to 10 games, now holding a 38-28 advantage overall. In defeat, Rutgers moved to 30-17 overall with an even 7-7 ledger against league foes.
Seven-of-nine Penn State batters reached base in what proved to be an offensive clinic for the Nittany Lion offense. PSU finished with five hits on the day from four different players while seven baserunners amassed eight runs for the Blue & White. Gordon stole the show in the weekend finale, as the sophomore from Shenandoah, Virginia, cranked the first grand slam at Penn State during the 2023 campaign. Gordon finished the weekend with the first two home runs of her collegiate career, going 3-for-9 overall with seven RBI and a three-day slugging percentage of 1.111.
Meanwhile, senior leftfielder Maggie Finnegan completed a 1-for-2 outing in the box on Sunday afternoon, sending a two-run homer to left that gave Penn State its first two runs of the day in the bottom of the second. Finnegan went an astonishing 6-for-8 on the weekend with a pair of runs, knocking a double and home run over the condensed series to post a slugging percentage of 1.250. Additionally, junior third baseman Emily Maddock continued her string of lights-out performances in the box, going 2-for-3 in the weekend finale with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth.
Another superb game defensively aided in Penn State's victory on Sunday, as the Nittany Lions completed an error-free three-game stretch with another perfect outing in the finale. In the circle, fifth-year senior Kylee Lingenfelter secured the start and booked the winning decision after 3.1 innings of work. Lingenfelter allowed just four hits with a trio of earned runs in the game, surrendering no walks while striking out a pair of Scarlet Knights. Fifth-year lefty Bailey Parshall came into the game in relief and tossed 3.2 shutout innings, scattering two hits while walking none and striking out seven. Parshall notched her first save of the year, bringing her into a tie for the second-most career saves in PSU history alongside 2008 graduate Ashley Esparza, who finished with eight.
After the first inning-and-a-half passed without incident, senior first baseman Lexie Black led off the bottom of the second with a five-pitch walk, followed shortly thereafter by a Nittany Lion strikeout. Maggie Finnegan stepped up to the plate and belted the ball deep to left on a 2-0 count, putting the first two Nittany Lion runs on the board early. Rutgers failed to respond in the visitor's half of the third, allowing PSU to maintain its early offensive momentum.
With one out on the board in the bottom of the third, Cassie Lindmark was hit by a Scarlet Knight pitch and took first base. Emily Maddock drilled a single to right center, moving Lindmark over. Jenna Nelson then came in to pinch run for Lindmark at second. After a Nittany Lion batter struck out to put two outs on the board, Black drew the second Rutgers beanball of the inning to load the bases. On the first pitch of the following at-bat, Gordon absolutely dismantled the softball, sending her second career homer and second long ball of the weekend series over the fence in left center for a grand slam.
With the Nittany Lions wielding a 6-0 lead heading into the fourth inning, Rutgers sought an immediate response from its offense in hopes of prolonging the game. Aided by a quintet of hits in addition to a free pass by way of a hit-by-pitch, Rutgers mustered three runs in the top of the fourth. Undeterred by the Scarlet Knight response, Penn State climbed right back into the driver's seat with a two-run performance in the bottom of the inning. Junior second baseman Melody Coombs reached base on a beanball and advanced to second after junior rightfielder Liana Jones singled to center. A pair of quick Nittany Lion outs ensued, but Maddock saved the offensive inning for the Blue & White with a two-out, two-RBI double to right that brought Jones and Coombs home to finalize the 8-3 PSU victory.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Maddie Gordon | 1-for-3, HR (Grand Slam), 4 RBI
Emily Maddock | 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Maggie Finnegan | 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI
Bailey Parshall | 3.2 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 7K, 62 TP, SAVE
KEY INNINGS
B2 | Lexie Black led off the bottom of the second inning with a five-pitch walk, followed shortly thereafter by a Nittany Lion strikeout. Maggie Finnegan stepped up to the plate and belted the ball deep to left on a 2-0 count, putting the first two Nittany Lion runs on the board. PSU 2, RUT 0.
B3 | With one out on the board, Cassie Lindmark was hit by a Scarlet Knight pitch and took first base. Emily Maddock drilled a single to right center, moving Lindmark over. Jenna Nelson then came in to pinch run for Lindmark at second. After a Nittany Lion batter struck out to put two down, Black drew the second Rutgers beanball of the inning to load the bases. On the first pitch of the following at-bat, Maddie Gordon absolutely dismantled the softball, sending her second career homer and second long ball of the weekend series over the fence in left center for a grand slam. PSU 6, RUT 0.
T4 | Kyleigh Sand singled through the right side on a 2-0 count and advanced to second after Payton Lincavage was hit by a PSU pitch. Morgan Smith singled up the middle and advanced to second base on the ensuing rundown between second and third. Lincavage originally advanced to second but got caught in an 8-2-5-4-3 rundown to put PSU's first out on the board. Sand scored on the play. Katie Wingert singled up the middle, putting runners on the corners with Smith now at third. Maddie Lawson singled through the left side, advancing Wingert and plating Smith. After Parshall came in to pitch for Lingenfelter, Taylor Fawcett singled to center field, bringing Orozco around after she pinch ran for Wingert. PSU 6, RUT 3.
B4 | Melody Coombs reached base on a beanball and advanced to second after Liana Jones singled to center field. A pair of quick Nittany Lion outs ensued, but Maddock saved the offensive inning for the Blue & White with a two-out, two-RBI double to right that brought Jones and Coombs home. PSU 8, RUT 3.
UP NEXT
Penn State softball concludes its six-game homestand in Happy Valley with a midweek contest against the Bucknell Bison on Tuesday, April 18. First pitch on Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park is slated for 6 p.m., with streaming available via B1G+.
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Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State softball. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion softball team on Facebook at /pennstatesoftball as well as Twitter and Instagram @PennStateSB.
