March 17, 2018
By Brian McLaughlin, Student Staff Writer GoPSUsports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State returned to Beard Field for the first time in 2018, battling its way to a split in a doubleheader with the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Nittany Lions fell in game one 6-5, falling just short on the comeback. The home team then took game two by the same score 6-5, holding on late fighting off a late Kent State rally.
"I love this team, I can't say that enough and you could see late they had the look on their faces like we're going to win," head coach Amada Lehotak said. We are still not relaxed in those moments I think because they get so excited. I think that's just youth and experience in those situations. They played a great second game and Jess (Cummings) did a great job and Shaffer pitched well all game."
Here are some takeaways from the home opening day of games.
Home Sweet Home
The return home could not have come sooner for the Nittany Lions who started the season with 18 games on the road. The team played relaxed and felt comfortable in front of their home fans.
"It's great to be back at Beard Field, you have no idea what it's like to be gone for so many games then come back home. We would like to thank our fans in what turned out to be a pretty nice day weather wise," Lehotak said. "I thought the kids played hard and I hope everyone got to see what we've been talking about away from home. We play hard, we fight, and we don't give up."
There was a definite energy for the Nittany Lions at home on Saturday, something the players fed off of.
"I love playing at home, there is nothing better than playing at home with our fans our friends and our family. The energy here is just so much better than anywhere else," first baseman Delaney Elling added.
Patience is Key
The Nittany Lions worked deep counts in both games against Kent State, walking a total of nine times between the two games.
"As a whole our plan was to compete at the plate. When you compete you see more pitches alternately you see the ball better and that results in better hits," Elling said.
Getting the Big Hit
Penn State's offense all season has struggled driving in runs, with the most runs scored in a game at six coming in. The team finally had some balls bounce its way with runners on base between the two games.
"Last week against Iowa State we had two line drives right at people that would've tied the game or at least scored a run so in that situation we got the ball passed people today and found some holes," Lehotak said. "Sometimes you just can't get the big hit. Game one we couldn't get it, in game two we did. Just like always I loved our attitude and we didn't quit."
On Saturday Elling delivered the first big hit in game two, driving a two-run home run over the left field wall for her first long-ball of the year. Destiny Weber and Dani Fey also delivered RBI doubles in the big fourth inning for Lions.
Player of the Day- Delaney Elling
Elling's home run was just the beginning for her in game two. She also hit an RBI single driving home Tori Dubois for an insurance run that proved to be the difference late in the game in the fifth inning.
"It was great to have my first home run here at Beard Field, I didn't really have that experience last year," she said. "I feel like I needed that and offensively we needed that as a team."
What's Next
Penn State returns to action on Sunday for the series finale against Kent State.