April 6, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Miranda Kulp, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Back on the road, the Penn State softball team traveled to Wisconsin for a three-game weekend series. The Nittany Lions continued their hot streak by ending the series, 2-1.
On Friday night, Penn State split a doubleheader with Wisconsin but scored a combined 24 runs and had 26 hits. The team ended the first game with a 11-8 victory then fell in a heartbreaker that resulted in a 14-13 loss.
After the loss, the Blue and White came back hungry on Saturday and made sure to bring its batting game.
The third and final game of the series ended in Penn State defeating Wisconsin 15-5.
"It was a crazy series for sure, after Friday night's lost our players came out strong Saturday and adjusted the way we wanted them to," head coach Amanda Lehotak said.
The team was trailing 5-4 in the fourth inning when Shelby Miller started the spark of the Lions' bats. Determined for the runs, Miller drilled a pitch over the right center field and jumped the scoreboard giving Penn State an 8-5 lead.
Following Miller's power hit, Reina Furuya gave the team a second grand slam for the game. She blasted the ball over center field with bases loaded making the score 13-5.
"I'm so proud of these kids, it's great we're seeing grand slams but what that shows me is the girls are staying more relaxed and confident at the plate which is key to good offensive softball," coach Lehotak said.
Currently with a 21-17 overall record and a 4-5 standing in the Big Ten, the Lions will host rivals Ohio State in a double header Wednesday night. Coming off of a powerful weekend, the Lions will be looking to keep the ball rolling as they prepare for the Buckeyes.