CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (8-12) came out on both sides of 2-1 decisions in midweek spring break contests with fellow Pennsylvania teams on Wednesday, falling to Penn in game one of the day before beating Villanova in game two at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater.
Game 1: Penn State 1, UPenn 2
The morning game of the doubleheader proved to be a defensive battle, with both teams staying off the scoreboard until the sixth inning and the offenses only recording three hits.
Both teams had hits in the first inning, with Tori Dubois leading the Nittany Lions at the plate with a single up the middle with two outs.
The second through fifth innings were quiet for both teams, as each pitcher faced the minimum amount of batters.
In the top of the sixth inning, Melina Livingston doubled to left center to get a runner on base with just one out. Toni Polk hit a sacrifice fly as the next batter to advance Livingston to third and bring Claire Swedberg up to the plate. Swedberg laid down a great bunt to get on base and bring Livingston home for the 1-0 Nittany Lion lead.
After taking down Penn in order in the bottom of the sixth, Penn State was not able to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh and the Quakers capitalized.
Penn's lead-off batter doubled to right field and the then a walk and a sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third with one out. The tying run scored on a sacrifice fly before the winning run came across the plate with a high pop-up to shallow right field.
Parshall finished the game with four strikeouts in the circle.
Game 2: Penn State 2, Villanova 1
Penn State turned things around in the second game of the day, scoring early to come out on the winning side of a 2-1 decision with Villanova.
Freshman Kylee Lingenfelter picked up her fourth win of the season playing four and a third innings in the circle while Parshall entered in relief for her third career save. Both struck out four Wildcat batters.
The Nittany Lion defense took down Villanova in order in the top of the first before scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the opening frame for the early lead.
In the lead-off spot, Polk smacked a double to left center. Swedberg was then walked to put two runners on with no outs. Dubois put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners before classmate Meghan Williams' bunt was able to stay in front of the pitcher and bring home Polk for the 1-0 lead.
Ally Kurland singled to right field as the next batter to score Swedberg and give the Nittany Lions a two-run advantage.
Both teams had hits in the second inning while Penn State added another in the third but neither team capitalized. Villanova then threatened in the top of the fourth inning with three hits before the Nittany Lion defense stranded two runners.
Villanova carried its momentum into the fifth inning with lead-off batter Julia Dacosta hitting a solo home run to center field to cut the Wildcat deficit to one with no outs. Two more Villanova batters got on base before Parshall entered the game and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Both pitchers saw the minimum amount of batters in the sixth before Parshall struck out two-of-three Wildcats in the seventh to seal the victory for the Nittany Lions.
On Deck
The Nittany Lions remain in Clearwater, Fla., at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex for five games in the USF Series. Penn State will start with Holy Cross and South Dakota State on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.