DURHAM, N.C. – The Penn State softball team (3-5) fell to the Syracuse Orange, 11-1, on day two of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Duke Softball Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Senior Tori Dubois was a bright spot for the Nittany Lion offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a RBI-double for Penn State's lone run in the game.
Syracuse got on the board early after a walk and sacrifice bunt in the top of the first inning for the initial 1-0 lead.
Penn State battled back in the bottom of the frame, with singles from seniors Toni Polk and Dubois and fielder's choices from Amanda Grieco and Chelsea Bisi to load the bases with one out. The Syracuse defense was able to control the momentum, however, and ended the inning with all three runners stranded.
Syracuse scored once more in the top of the second for the two-run advantage.
But once again in the bottom of the third, Polk and Dubois stepped up to the plate and provided crucial hits for the Nittany Lions, including Dubois' RBI-single to bring Penn State within one.
Syracuse took advantage of two Penn State errors in the top of the fourth to score nine runs for the eventual 11-1 winning score.
The Nittany Lions face Duke on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for the final game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.