ORLANDO, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (5-5) was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling to Villanova, 9-3, in the final day of the UCF Knights Classic Sunday morning at UCF Softball Complex.
Similarly to the first matchup between the two teams, Villanova took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning with a solo home run from Chloe Smith. The Wildcats also got two runners in scoring position with back-to-back base hits with two outs but freshman pitcher Vanessa Oatley struck out the next batter for the third out to keep Penn State within distance.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the bottom of the second with two hits and then a three-run home run from Paige Rauch to make it 4-0 after two.
Villanova added one run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to take a five-run advantage halfway through the game before Penn State was able to respond with two runs in the top of the sixth.
Freshman Michelle Leone drew a lead-off walk before back-to-back base hits from sophomore Melina Livingston and redshirt junior Kennedy Legg plated one run. Livingston then scored on a throwing error on the next play to put the Nittany Lions within three.
However, Villanova ran away with it in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs on three hits and an error, including its third home run of the day.
Penn State didn't give up, with a lead-off double by sophomore Ally Kurland in the top of the seventh followed up by a double by freshman Kaitlyn Morrison to plate Kurland to make it 9-3.
Legg went 2-for-4 at the plate for her third multi-hit game of the season.
On Deck
The Nittany Lions head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Bama Bash, Feb. 21-23. Penn State will face Louisville, 2019 Women's College World Series participant and host Alabama, and Wichita State.
