CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The seventh-seeded Penn State softball team opened the 2023 Big Ten Tournament in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, notching a 3-2 win over the 10th-seeded Michigan Wolverines in walk off-fashion at Eichelberger Field.
The Nittany Lions scored a historic win over Michigan in the first round of the tournament, defeating the Wolverines in postseason competition for the first time in school history. PSU was previously 0-7 against Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament heading into Wednesday's contest. The Blue & White also secured its ninth victory over the Wolverines all-time, booking their second straight win over Michigan dating to an April 10 victory in last year's series finale in Ann Arbor.
With the victory, Penn State climbs to 31-15 overall in the 2023 season and advances to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the second straight season. In its 16th appearance in the tournament, PSU picked up its 15th victory at the event following its thrilling walk off result against the Wolverines. The Nittany Lions will continue their stay in Champaign with a meeting against the second-seeded Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday. In defeat, Michigan drops to 26-25 and concludes its stay in Illinois.
In the box score, senior shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison published one of the most dominant and consequential outings of her 2023 campaign, going 2-for-3 overall with a double and a solo home run. The South Park, Pennsylvania, native mashed her seventh homer of 2023 and recorded her 34th RBI, currently tied for the team lead alongside senior first baseman Lexie Black. Senior catcher Cassie Lindmark was productive in her at-bats, going 1-for-2 in addition to drawing a hit-by-pitch. Sophomore pinch runner Lydia Coleman tallied a run scored in the game, while fifth-year center fielder Lilia Crouthamel scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh after drawing a key walk.
The Blue & White saw continued success in the circle on Wednesday, highlighted by a domineering performance from fifth-year righty Kylee Lingenfelter. The Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, native tossed 2.1 innings, recording five strikeouts and zero walks in that stretch. Lingenfelter allowed just two hits and left Michigan scoreless during her time in the circle, guaranteeing her 12th individual victory of the year. Lingenfelter moves to 12-5 on the year, good enough for the best win percentage on the roster at .706. Fifth-year southpaw Bailey Parshall recorded the start, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing five hits, two earned runs and one walk against three strikeouts.
After a quiet first inning, Michigan got the back-and-forth affair started with a one-run effort in the top of the second inning. Ellie Mataya singled toward the Nittany Lion shortstop and advanced to second after Lexie Voss executed a sac bunt. Audrey LeClair reached on a fielding error, and a Ryleigh Carricaburu fielder's choice allowed Mataya enough time to complete her trip around the bases. The Blue & White went the next two innings scoreless but responded with authority in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Kaitlyn Morrison stepped into the batter's box and tore the cover off the softball, sending a solo home run over the wall in deep left field to tie the game back up at one run apiece.
In the next half-inning, Michigan snapped right back with another run in the top of the fifth. After the Nittany Lion defense put two outs on the board, Michigan's Indiana Langford singled to right center to spark a Wolverine rally. Keke Tholl was hit by a pitch, taking first while advancing Langford to second. Another hit-by-pitch allowed Michigan to load the bases, and a single from Mataya brought Langford home. Seeking a response, PSU's offense called on the ever-efficient junior third baseman, Emily Maddock, to bring the offense new life.
Maddock singled up the middle on the second pitch of her at-bat and Morrison followed that with a double to right center that moved Maddock to third. Lydia Coleman came in to pinch run for Maddock at third base, and a Lexie Black sac fly drove her in to tie the game once more. With things deadlocked 2-all heading into the bottom of the seventh, Crouthamel drew a leadoff walk to open the inning. Melody Coombs laid down what appeared to be a sacrifice bunt, but the Michigan third baseman attempted to throw Crouthamel out at second instead. Her throw sailed past her teammate's outstretched glove and careened into right-center, giving Crouthamel enough time to snag the game-winning run by way of a walk off throwing error. The Nittany Lions left Eichelberger Field with a 3-2 victory in regulation, defeating the Wolverines in the postseason for the first time ever in the process.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Kaitlyn Morrison | 2-for-3, 2B, HR, RBI, R
Cassie Lindmark | 1-for-2, HBP
Lilia Crouthamel | 0-for-2, BB, R (Game-Winning Run)
Kylee Lingenfelter | 2.1 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 5K, WIN
KEY INNINGS
T2 | Ellie Mataya singled toward the Nittany Lion shortstop and advanced to second after Lexie Voss executed a sac bunt. Audrey LeClair reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, and a Ryleigh Carricaburu fielder's choice allowed Mataya enough time to complete her trip around the bases. MICH 1, PSU 0
B4 | With one out, Kaitlyn Morrison stepped into the batter's box and tore the cover off the softball, sending a solo home run over the wall in deep left field to tie the game back up. PSU 1, MICH 1
T5 | After putting two outs on the board, Indiana Langford singled to right center to spark a Wolverine rally. Keke Tholl was hit by a Nittany Lion pitch, taking first while advancing Langford to second. Another hit-by-pitch allowed Michigan to load the bases, and a single by Mataya brought Langford home. MICH 2, PSU 1
B6 | Emily Maddock singled up the middle on the second pitch of her at-bat and Morrison followed that with a double to right center that moved Maddock to third. Lydia Coleman came in to pinch run for Maddock at third base, and a Lexie Black sac fly drove her in to tie the game once more. PSU 2, MICH 2
B7 | Lilia Crouthamel drew a leadoff walk to open the inning and Melody Coombs stepped into the batter's box looking to execute a sacrifice bunt. Coombs laid the bunt down, but the Michigan third baseman attempted to throw Crouthamel out at second instead. Her throw sailed past her teammate's outstretched glove and careened into right-center, giving Crouthamel enough time to snag the game-winning run by way of a walk off throwing error. PSU 3, MICH 2
UP NEXT
Seventh-seeded Penn State softball extends its stay in Illinois and will resume competition in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, May 11. The Nittany Lions will square off against the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers on Eichelberger Field, with first pitch slated for 2:30 p.m. (ET). All of the action from the campus of the University of Illinois is slated for national broadcast via the Big Ten Network with streaming available on the Fox Sports App.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
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.
