May 3, 2014
6 (22-25, 6-16 B1G) | University Park, Pa. • Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field | 1 (14-33, 5-17B1G) |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 3, 2014 - The offensive drought continued for the Penn State softball team on Saturday afternoon as the Nittany Lions dropped a 6-1 decision to Illinois on Senior Day. Sophomore Lexi Knief (Ramsey, N.J.) led the Blue and White with her 17th multi-hit effort of the year as she went 2-for-4 at the plate while senior Liz Presto (Bethlehem, Pa.) scored the Lions lone run of the game.
Presto was also one of three other Nittany Lions to register a hit in the loss. Sophomore Macy Jones (Ashburn, Va.) turned in her second double of the year while freshman Shelby Miller (Sugar Land, Texas) and senior Alyssa Sovereign (La Canada, Calif.) also posted hits for PSU.
Sophomore pitchers Christy Von Pusch (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Jones split the effort in the circle with Von Pusch taking the loss to move to 2-2 on the year. Shelese Arnold gained the victory for the Fighting Illini after pitching a full seven innings to improve to 6-10 in 2014.
The Illini launched their attack early, posting two runs in the opening frame. Allie Bauch kicked off the game with a leadoff home run, blasting one over the center field wall. Kylie Johnson headed all the way to second next on a Reina Furuya (Waipahu, Hawaii) throwing error and stole third before being brought in by a Brittany Sanchez groundout to second base.
Penn State kept Illinois off the board over the next two innings but the Illini pushed ahead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs. A leadoff single to left center from Jenna Mychko kicked things off. Alyssa Gunther entered to pinch run for Mychko, immediately headed to second on a sacrifice bunt from Remeny Perez and scored on a Jess Perkins double to left center. Bauch registered her second hit of the game to send Perkins home, shooting a two-out single to right field.
The Lions posted their first run of the series in the bottom of the fifth to pull within three. Presto sparked the PSU offense with a two-out single to right and Alicia Walker (Los Alamitos, Calif.) drew a walk to set things up for Knief. The centerfielder delivered for the Lions, punching a single up the middle to score Presto and bring the score to 4-1.
Illinois countered with two more runs in the following frame. Jade Vecvanags and Bauch reached base on back-to-back fielder's choices and Vecvanags advanced to third after another Furuya error. Johnson stepped up and collected a pair of RBI, ripping a triple deep to center field to score Vecvanags and Bauch.
Penn State put three more Lions on base in the remaining innings but was unable to bring them in as Illinois won by a final of 6-1.
The Blue and White and the Fighting Illini return to action on Sunday for the series and regular-season finale. First pitch is slated for 10:30 a.m. at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.