LEESBURG, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (0-6, 0-6 Big Ten) was bested twice by Northwestern (6-0. 6-0) on Sunday in the weekend finale at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.
Game 1: Northwestern 8, Penn State 3
Penn State out-hit Northwestern in game one, 5-4, but could not capitalize on that advantage and fell to the Wildcats, 8-3.
Northwestern got off to a significant lead in the top of the third, scoring eight runs on just three hits.
The Nittany Lions battled back however, getting on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a pinch-hit RBI double from sophomore Michelle Leone to score classmate Kaitlyn Morrison.
After a quick three up, three down inning on defense, the Nittany Lions used that momentum to add two more runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore transfer Lexie Black hit a lead-off single to right field and then freshman Lauren Marcotte drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch before Black scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Lilia Crouthamel. Senior Dani Fey then put a single down in shallow right field to score Marcotte and get Penn State within five.
In the bottom of the seventh, Penn State threatened by getting runners in scoring position, but Northwestern got out of the jam for the win.
Sophomore pitcher Vanessa Oatley recorded five strikeouts in 4.2 innings after coming in from the dugout for senior Logan Black who made her first start of the season.
Game 2: Northwestern 5, Penn State 1
The Nittany Lions had a hard time getting the bats going in game two, with their lone hit coming from Morrison.
The Wildcats got off to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, with four hits leading to plating three runners.
Penn State got a run back in its next offensive sequence, as Lexie Black drew a walk to lead off before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Crouthamel. Morrison then singled up the middle and Black went to third before being plated on a sacrifice fly by junior Ally Kurland.
Northwestern got its lead back to three in the bottom of the second on a single and RBI double. They added their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to seal the victory and remain undefeated to start the season.
ON DECK
Penn State has a week off before returning to Leesburg, Fla. and Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex March 11-14. The Nittany Lions will face Iowa and Illinois in three-game series each. All games will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.
