March 29, 2018
By Andy Kuros, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Although Penn State split its doubleheader with Robert Morris on the diamond Wednesday night, another late Nittany Lion comeback gave the team a 9-7 victory in game one.
"I'm happy to come away with a split tonight," head coach Amanda Lehotak said. "We had another come-from-behind win in game one, so obviously we proved our character and fight. For whatever reason, we just have not played well in a doubleheader setting, and that has to be fixed. I don't know what we're missing with that and why we can't sustain (our play) for 14 innings. It's like we're really good for seven and then we die off, so that will be addressed somehow. Other than that, I like the fight."
Comeback Kids
Following an RBI triple by Toni Polk to make the score 7-4 in the bottom of the 5th inning, junior outfielder Tori Dubois came up with the bases loaded and gave the Nittany Lions the lead with one swing of her bat. Dubois hit a shot down the left field line that left Beard Park, giving the Blue and White an 8-7 lead.
"I think it's just something you work for and get ready for. We're always prepared," Dubois said. "To come up in the big moment I something I love. I love putting the ball in play for my teammates."
"She's a magnet for those situations and she loves those situations," Lehotak said. "She's just the one you want in that position. She's calm and collected, and I wasn't surprised by (her grand-slam). You just feel good when she's at the plate no matter what."
Shaffer Closes Strong
After entering the game in a tough situation with no outs in the top of the first inning, Shaffer was rock solid for the Nittany Lions. Despite giving up four runs early on, she didn't allow a run in the 5th, 6th, or 7th innings. She even punched out the side in the top of the 7th to close out the game.
"I thought Shaffer in game one settled back down and did exactly what we needed her to do," Lehotak said.
"She was really good," Lehotak added. "I told she looked like herself this past weekend because she wasn't herself with the way she had been throwing. When we put her in for Smith in game one and she kind of looked shaky, but then you could see every inning she was starting to work out of it. I feel like she's back. This happens with pitching, but I'm glad to see her back going to a big weekend against Rutgers."
Shaffer earns her second win of the season due to her seven strikeout, one walk performance Wednesday evening.
Player of the Game
Who else but Tori Dubois? The advertising and public relations major went 2-4 with four RBI in game one, hitting the program's first grand-slam since 2016. The clutch go-ahead shot was her second homerun of the season. Sophomore catcher Kennedy Legg also had two hits in game two, leading the Nittany Lions offensively in the nightcap.
What's next?
Penn State will continue Big Ten play this weekend as they travel to New Brunswick, New Jersey to play a three game series with Rutgers.