UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State softball team (20-24, 4-10 Big Ten) fell to Rutgers (20-19, 4-8 Big Ten) in both games of the doubleheader, 3-0 and 5-3, Saturday at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
Game 1: Penn State 0, Rutgers 3
Penn State struggled at the plate in game one of the day, recording just one hit.
Rutgers got on the board first in the third inning due to two defensive errors for the 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions attempted to counter with a base hit by Dani Fey in the bottom half of the inning but eventually got caught in a double-play situation to end the frame.
The visitors added two runs on two hits their next time at the plate for the eventual 3-0 winning score.
Bailey Parshall entered the circle in relief of Madison Shaffer, striking out four and not allowing any hits.
Game 2: Penn State, Rutgers
Penn State put together a much better offensive appearance in the second game of the doubleheader, posting a weekend-high nine hits, including a 2-for-3 performance by freshman Claire Swedberg and a 2-for-4 day for junior Destiny Weber.
Just like in the first game of the day, the first two innings remained scoreless for both teams.
Rutgers jumped out to the 3-0 lead after the top of the third after a triple and two-run home run.
Penn State countered, cutting the Scarlet Knights' lead to two in the bottom half of the inning on a single up the middle by Weber and a RBI single by Amanda Grieco after Ally Kurland drew a walk to put two on.
The Nittany Lion defense then took Rutgers down in order in the top of the fourth to get the offense back to the plate with some momentum. Back-to-back doubles by Dani Fey and Melina Livingston and then two sacrifice hits by Toni Polk and Swedberg made it a tie game after four.
Rutgers had a home run and two doubles in the sixth to regain the lead and then held Penn State at the plate for the victory.
Rutgers swept the series, 3-0.
On Deck
Penn State travels to College Park, Md., for a three-game conference series at Maryland, April 19-21. First pitch times are schedule for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.