UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State softball team goes back to the Sunshine State this weekend to participate in the Knights Classic hosted by UCF, Feb. 14-16 in Orlando, Fla. The Nittany Lions are set to face Villanova and FAU twice and Iowa State once.
GAME INFORMATION
- Game 1: Penn State vs. Villanova – Friday, Feb. 14; 11:30 a.m. | Live Stats
- Game 2: Penn State vs. FAU – Friday, Feb. 14; 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats
- Game 3: Penn State vs. FAU – Saturday, Feb. 15; 11 a.m. | Live Stats
- Game 4: Penn State vs. Iowa State – Saturday, Feb. 15; 1:30 p.m. | Live Stats
- Game 5: Penn State vs. Villanova – Sunday, Feb. 16; 9 a.m. | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
- Penn State has met up on the field with all three of its weekend opponents.
- The Nittany Lions will face in-state opponent Villanova for the second-straight season and only the second time in program history after capturing a 2-1 win last season in Clearwater, Fla. over spring break.
- Penn State and FAU will meet for the 11th time overall but first since 2016 looking to break a 5-5 tie in the series history.
- Penn State will play its fifth game against a Power-5 team against Iowa State for a singular game in the tournament. The Cyclones hold the slight advantage in the overall series, 5-3, including the last game in 2018.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
- Villanova capped opening weekend with a 3-2 overall record with wins against San Diego State, Jacksonville and Nicholl's State in Jacksonville, Fla. Junior Paige Rauch picked up all three wins in the circle for the Wildcats with a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings of work. Rauch also leads the team offensively with seven hits, including three home runs, and seven RBI. She holds a .636 batting average. Rauch and sophomore Megan Kern were named to the Big East Honor Roll for their performances week one.
- FAU started 2020 at home at 1-4 with its lone win against Northern Illinois. Senior Kaitlyn Burke leads the Owls with a .300 batting average with three hits and three RBI.
- Iowa State has the best record at 4-1 after claiming the title at the Paradise Classic in Hawaii opening weekend. The Cyclones beat Hawaii (twice), Memphis and Northern Colorado for the crown. Junior Hannah Carter leads the team with a .538 batting average with seven hits and two RBI while classmate Sami Williams has batted in a team-high 13 runs. The Cyclone pitching staff has a combined 2.00 ERA.
FRESHMEN MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT
- The Nittany Lion newcomers made an immediate impact opening weekend, accounting for 18 of 35 total hits and making up three spots in the starting lineup.
- Starting shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison led Penn State with seven hits in 16 at-bats in her Nittany Lion debut, including the game-winning walk-off double against Cal for Penn State's first victory of the season. Morrison is riding a team-high five-game hit streak and on-base streak, recording at least one hit in each game over the weekend.
- Michelle Leone started at third base in every game for the Nittany Lions and had the next-most hits with six for a .375 batting average.
- After originally coming out of the dugout as a sub in game one, Leanne Matthews started at second base the rest of the weekend. Matthews had four hits on the weekend, with multi-hit games in both Penn State's wins on opening day.
- Kathryn Rex and Maggie Finnegan also made their Penn State debuts, with Finnegan recording a hit and RBI in one at-bat as a pinch hitter.
LEGG BACK IN LINEUP
- Redshirt junior Kennedy Legg is back in the lineup as the designated player after missing the 2019 season due to injury.
- Legg proved she was missed, with five hits, including two doubles, and a team-high five RBI on the weekend.
- She was a major contributor to the comeback victory against Cal in game one, going 2-for-3 at the plate to bat in the tying run.
WE'RE PARSHALL TO BAILEY'S STRIKEOUT SUCCESS
- Lefty ace Bailey Parshall made a name for herself as a freshman in 2019, and started off right where she left off to begin the 2020 campaign.
- Parshall pitched a complete game in the comeback victory over Cal on Feb. 7, only allowing two runs on four hits for her first win of the season.
- She then picked up the save against FIU for the sixth of her career to move into a tie for third all-time in program history for career saves.
- The Belle Vernon, Pa., native struck out a total of 15 batters over the weekend and sits just one strikeout away from 200 career Ks.
WORKIN' THE CIRCLE
- The Penn State pitching staff dominated the circle opening weekend, only giving up 12 runs in 32.0 innings.
- The Nittany Lion pitchers hold a combined 1.53 ERA, fourth best in the conference and 37th nationally.
- They are also holding opposing batters to a .195 batting average.
ON DECK
Penn State travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Bama Bash, Feb. 21-23 at the newly renovated Rhoads Stadium. The Nittany Lions will face Louisville, host and 2019 Women's College World Series participant Alabama and Wichita State for a total of five games on the weekend.