KENNESAW, Ga. – The Penn State softball team (8-12) could not hang on to an early one-run lead as the Kennesaw State Owls came back for the 2-1 extra-inning victory Sunday morning at Bailey Park.
Penn State started aggressive in the opening frame with a single to left field on the very first pitch by freshman Kaitlyn Morrison.
Sophomore Melina Livingston then singled to the same spot with one out before both runners advanced to scoring position on a ground out, but both were stranded.
The Owls threatened with a triple in their first offensive attempt, but starting pitcher Vanessa Oatley and the defense took care of business to keep the game scoreless after one.
In the top of the second, sophomore Ally Kurland drew a lead-off walk before classmate Claire Swedberg laid down a great bunt to beat the throw and get two runners on. A sacrifice bunt by senior Destiny Weber then moved both runners for sophomore Lilia Crouthamel to hit a sacrifice fly and give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead.
Kennesaw State got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on three hits to make it a tie game.
Penn State almost had the lead again in the seventh with a lead-off double by Crouthamel. Livingston was able to single through the left side with two outs and Crouthamel put on the jets to try to get home but was thrown out at the plate.
The game would go to extras for Penn State's second-straight game playing extra innings, and Kennesaw State was able to win on a walk-off double after a single in the bottom of the eighth.
The Nittany Lions recorded seven total hits in the game, including multi-hit games from Livingston and Swedberg, but left eight runners on.
Pitching in relief, sophomore Bailey Parshall struck out nine.
On Deck
Penn State starts its 10-game spring break tour in Clearwater, Fla., March 6-14. The Nittany Lions will play Yale, Bowling Green, Seton Hall, Robert Morris and Western Michigan weekend one in the Clearwater Spring Break Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex, March 6-8.
