May 1, 2015
| 0 | 8 |
Wilpon Complex | Ann Arbor, Mich.| | |
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| FINAL STATISTICS |
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Penn State softball team dropped an 8-0 decision to No. 3 Michigan in five innings on Friday at Alumni Field in the Wilpon Complex. The Nittany Lions drew five walks on the day, but managed only one hit. The blue and white are now 28-25 overall and 9-12 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines improved to 46-6, including 19-2 in conference play.
Junior Lexi Knief (Ramsey, N.J.) collected the lone hit on the day, reaching base twice.
Freshman Jessica Cummings (Owings, Md.) started the game, holding the Wolverines scoreless through the first two innings, allowing only one hit. Cummings pitched into the fourth inning, allowing six runs on six hits, while walking three.
Junior Macy Jones (Ashburn, Va.) finished the game, pitching one inning, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two and walking one.
Penn State threatened to score in the top of the first, with Lexi Knief (Ramsey, N.J.) and Mollie Sorenson (Stevenson Ranch, Fla.) drawing back-to-back walks to leadoff the frame. However, the Nittany Lions could not get them in as the next three batters went down on strikes.
The blue and white again got two runners on in the top of the second as Kristina Brackpool (Valencia, Calif.) and Reina Furuya (Waipahu, Hawaii) reached on walks. The Wolverines got on the board first in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by Kelly Christner. Lauren Sweet added a third run in the inning with a home run to center.
Michigan added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth, including three on another home run to center by Sweet.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Knief sent the first pitch through the middle for a single.
Michigan starter Megan Betsa pitched a complete game, striking out nine.
The Nittany Lions continue their final series of the regular season on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game. Sunday's contest begins at 1 p.m.