MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (4-11) split opening day of the Madeira Beach Invitational, beating Boston College, 5-4, in comeback fashion before falling to Florida International, 3-2, Friday at Madeira Beach ROC Park Softball Fields.
Game 1: Penn State 5, Boston College 4
Penn State snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating the Boston College Eagles (3-9) in game one of the Madeira Beach Invitational.
Ally Kurland and Haley Vallejos both went 2-for-3 at the plate while senior Tori Dubois' one hit in the game was the game-winning two-RBI double.
Boston College got on the board first in the top of the second inning, scoring two runs on two hits and one defensive error for the early 2-0 lead.
A single to put a runner on base and then a two-run home run gave the Eagles the four-run advantage in the middle of the third.
The Nittany Lions were able to cut their deficit back to two in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Dubois was walked to put a runner on base. Senior Meghan Williams then crushed a ball deep to left field for a double while Dubois got to third. Kurland was then walked to load the bases before Vallejos placed a perfect ball between the first baseman and the right fielder for a two-RBI single.
Boston College had two more hits in the top of the fourth before being shut out at the plate for the rest of the game by senior pitcher Madison Shaffer.
Two Eagles errors in the bottom of the sixth inning helped swing momentum toward Penn State. First, Amanda Grieco got on base as the lead-off batter with a dropped ball by the right fielder. Then Claire Swedberg squeezed in a perfect bunt to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Melina Livingston then reached base via another Boston College error and Grieco was able to score to bring the game within one. Two batters later, Dubois stepped up to the plate and hit a much-needed double to left field to bring home both Swedberg and Livingston for the 5-4 Penn State lead.
Shaffer struck out four Eagles batters in three innings pitched for her first victory of the season.
Game 2: Penn State 2, FIU 3
In game two of the day, Penn State outhit FIU, 7-4, but ultimately fell to the Panthers (11-6).
The Nittany Lions came out swinging, as senior Toni Polk hit a home run to left field as the game's lead-off batter for the early 1-0 lead.
FIU countered, however, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the opening frame to take the 2-1 lead after one.
The next two innings went scoreless for both teams before Grieco hit Penn State's second home run of the day and the first of her career to left center to tie the game at two after four innings.
This is the second time this season that Penn State has hit two home runs in a single game.
FIU scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth.
M. Williams and Livingston both had two hits in the game but the offense was unable to convert.
Penn State continues play in the Madeira Beach Invitational on Saturday, with a single game against Detroit Mercy at 1:30 p.m.
