LEESBURG, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (0-8, 0-8 Big Ten) battled the Iowa Hawkeyes (4-4, 4-4 Big Ten) to 12 innings of play in game two of the doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex, but ultimately fell, 6-5. Iowa also took game one of the series by a score of 5-1.
Game 1: Iowa 5, Penn State 1
Iowa took the first game of the doubleheader, powered behind nine hits from the offense.
The Hawkeyes scored two runs on two hits and two errors in the opening frame to take the early lead.
They added another run on two hits in the third for a three-run advantage.
Penn State was able to take some of that momentum away in the bottom half of the frame, scoring a run to make it 3-1. Freshman Lauren Marcotte singled to lead off the inning and then advanced all the way to third on a fielding error by Iowa's right fielder.
Sophomore Maggie Finnegan then batted her on a sacrifice bunt to put the Nittany Lions on the board.
Iowa added two more runs on one hit and an error in the top of the fifth.
Penn State got runners on in the bottom half of the frame with junior Claire Swedberg singling and classmate Lilia Crouthamel drawing a walk before both advanced to scoring position before being stranded.
Game 2: Iowa 6, Penn State 5 (12 innings)
Game two last a bit longer, going 12 innings before the Hawkeyes were able to capture the victory.
After three full scoreless innings to start game two, Penn State got on the board first in the top of the fourth on a two-RBI hit by senior Dani Fey.
The Nittany Lions held on to that lead until the bottom of the seventh when Iowa was able to tie the game out on a last-chance opportunity to take the game to extra innings.
The teams then traded runs back and forth through the extra play as these games are utilizing the International Tie Breaker rule with a runner starting on second.
Ultimately, Iowa hit a RBI triple in the bottom of the 12th to tie the game at 5-5 before a walk-off RBI single won the game.
Junior pitcher Bailey Parshall pitched the complete game, striking out 11 for her second double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
ON DECK
The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes will conclude the three-game series on Friday morning at 11 a.m.
