ORLANDO, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (3-4) fell twice Friday in the UCF Knights Classic to Villanova, 3-2, and FAU, 4-1 at the UCF Softball Complex.
Game 1: Penn State 2, Villanova 3
After going down 2-0 before the midway point, Penn State rallied back to tie the game with back-to-back two-out home runs from sophomore Melina Livingston and freshman Kaitlyn Morrison at the top of the lineup, but ultimately Villanova scored a third run to win.
Sophomore pitcher Bailey Parshall started in the circle for the Nittany Lions and struck out nine to surpass the 200-career strikeout mark only six games into her second year.
The Wildcats got on the board first in the opening frame with a home run from pitcher Paige Rauch.
Parshall struck out six of eight Villanova batters faced in the first two innings.
Villanova added to its lead in the top of the third with a run on two hits and an error to make it 2-0.
Penn State responded in the bottom half of the inning with the back-to-back home runs to tie the game at two after three. The home run for Morrison marked the first of her career and moved her hit streak to six games.
The Wildcats got one back in the top of the fifth with a lead-off single and two groundouts to move the runner before Megan Kern batted the winning run home with another single.
The Nittany Lions attempted the rally in the bottom of the seventh with a double from Morrison and a drawn walk by sophomore Chelsea Bisi, both with two outs, but weren't able to capitalize with runners on.
Game 2: Penn State 1, FAU 4
Penn State and Florida Atlantic were going inning-for-inning with each other in the afternoon cap, but the Owls were able to pull away in the sixth after converting on a Nittany Lion error in the outfield.
Freshman Michelle Leone drove in Penn State's lone run of the game and went 2-for-3 at the plate.
FAU scored first in the bottom of the second after a lead-off double put a runner on and the subsequent two batters moved the runner home.
The Nittany Lions were able to respond in their next offensive possession with a lead-off single to right field by sophomore Ally Kurland and then a single up the middle from Leone with two outs tied the game at one.
The next three innings were even defensively with both offenses going down in order in nearly each attempt.
The Owls got runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Jolie Duffner then singled to left field to score one run while another came in on an error after misplaying the ball in the outfield.
Duffner then scored after another hit for her team's eventual 4-1 winning scoreline.
On Deck
Penn State continues play in the UCF Knights Classic Saturday, starting with a rematch against FAU, followed up by a single game with Iowa State. First pitches are schedule for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.