April 16, 2017
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April 16, 2017
LINCOLN, Neb. - Despite a seventh inning two-out rally, the Penn State softball team suffered a 6-4 loss to the Cornhuskers of Nebraska in the final game of the three-game Big Ten Conference series Sunday, April 16.
The Nittany Lions (16-25, 4-10) allowed the Cornhuskers (19-22, 9-5 B1G) to score three runs in the bottom of the first inning and were unable to forge a comeback in the loss.
Sophomore Tori Dubois (Mt. Vernon, N.H.) brought in the first run of the day for the Blue and White with a single through the right side before launching a three-run home run over the left field wall with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to bring the Nittany Lions within two. Penn State left seven runners stranded, getting runners into scoring position in three-straight innings. Freshman Madey Smith (Washington, N.J.) suffered the loss in the circle, throwing the bottom of the first, while both Marlaina Laubach (Northampton, Pa.) and Madison Seifert (Wildwood, Mo.) both saw time in relief.
Tristen Edwards led Nebraska for the second-straight game, going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and scoring twice, while Kaylan Jablonski helped herself in the circle with two hits and two RBI. Jablonski earned the victory in the circle, hurling all seven innings.
Nebraska was the first to light up the scoreboard for the first time in the series when it scored three runs on two doubles and a wild pitch to take the 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
The Nittany Lions moved runners into scoring position in the top of the third inning with a leadoff single, an error and a sacrifice bunt but were unable to bring in a run as they continued to trail 3-0.
Penn State came within two of the Cornhuskers in the top of the fifth inning, capitalizing on a walk as Mollie Sorenson (Stephenson Ranch, Calif.) made her way around the bases before touching home on a Dubois single through the right side of the infield. Nebraska responded in the bottom half of the inning, tacking on three more runs on four hits and one error to take a 6-1 lead over the Blue and White.
Rebecca Ziegler (Tucson, Ariz.) started a one-out rally in the top of the seventh inning as she walked and advanced to second on a ground out before making her way 60-feet from home on a wild pitch. A second walk put runners on first and third for Penn State with two outs before Dubois stepped in and launched a full count home run over the left field wall to bring the Nittany Lions within two. The rally fell short as Jablonski struck out the final out of the game for the Cornhuskers.
Up Next:
Penn State will welcome Bucknell to Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field for a mid-week non-conference contest Wedneday, April 19. The doubleheader is slated for 5 p.m.