UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State softball team extended its win streak to three games with a sweep over Rutgers in a doubleheader on Saturday at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The Nittany Lions (4-19, 4-19 Big Ten) won 4-2 in game one and came back to win 4-3 in game two to take the series, 3-1, over the Scarlet Knights (6-18, 6-18 Big Ten).
"I'm just proud of (our student-athletes)," said head coach Clarisa Crowell. "They've played hard in every game that we've played this year and I just loved their fight, especially in game two. To be down two runs in the sixth inning with two outs and to come back and Lilia [Crouthamel] having a big hit, I just think it shows the fight and grit they've been showing all year. They deserve to get that sweep today. I couldn't be more proud of them."
Game 1: Penn State 4, Rutgers 2
Junior Ally Kurland led the Nittany Lions in game one of the day with two home runs that scored three of the four total runs. She also made a critical play at the plate in the fifth to keep Rutgers from scoring more runs.
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, Penn State struck first in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Michelle Leone drew a walk to get on base and then Kurland homered to left center with two outs to make it 2-0 Nittany Lions after two.
Rutgers got a run back in their next offensive possession on a hit and an error to make it 2-1.
Kurland then hit another two-out home run down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth to put the home team back up two.
Once again the Scarlet Knights cut the deficit in half in the next frame, scoring one run on three hits in the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Penn State was able to take advantage of two Rutgers' errors to add another run. Junior Melina Livingston singled to start off the frame and then advance to second on a throwing error on freshman Melody Coombs' sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Maggie Finnegan then had a sacrifice bunt to advance Livingston and Coombs to scoring position.
Redshirt senior Kennedy Legg then drew a walk and Leone reached on a fielder's choice to score Livingston and get Penn State to the eventual 4-2 winning score.
The Penn State defense took care of business the rest of the game to secure the win. Junior starting pitcher Bailey Parshall picked up her first win of the season in the circle with three strikeouts.
Game 2: Penn State 4, Rutgers 3
In game two, Penn State fronted a sixth-inning comeback for the 4-3 win to continue the win streak.
Junior Lilia Crouthamel had a stellar game on both sides of the ball, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a career-high three RBI, including the game-winning two-out two-RBI double in the sixth. Coombs also had a multi-hit game, her second of the season.
The first two innings were scoreless before Rutgers struck first with two runs on two hits in the top of the third.
Penn State attempted to get runs on the board in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch, but the Scarlet Knights were able to get out of the jam to keep their two-run lead.
Rutgers added another run on two hits in the top of the fourth for its third run.
The Nittany Lions continued to fight and finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth to cut the score to 3-1. Livingston doubled down the right field line and then Crouthamel singled to score her classmate.
Penn State continued the comeback push in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a one-out double by Coombs to put a runner in scoring position. She then advanced to third on a passed ball.
Junior Claire Swedberg then drew a pinch-hit walk, as did freshman Amanda Mack, who was patient and battled back from a 0-2 count to help load the bases for the Nittany Lions. Leone then singled to shallow center field to score Coombs to get Penn State within one.
Livingston then reached on a fielder's choice but Rutgers got the force out at home to keep the game at 3-2 with two outs now.
Crouthamel then hit a double to left field to score two runs to get Penn State to take the lead for the first time in game two.
The defense then recorded a 1-2-3 inning to secure the win. Sophomore pitcher Vanessa Oatley came in to the circle in relief and picked up the win, her second of the season.
ON DECK
Penn State hits the road again for the first of two-straight road trips next weekend. The Nittany Lions will face the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing in a four-game series, April 16-18.
GAME NOTES
- Junior Ally Kurland hit two home runs in game one, her first career multi-home run game. It marks the first multi-home run game for an individual player since Destiny Weber hit two at Alabama last season (2/22/20). It also ties a single-game program record.
- Junior Lilia Crouthamel recorded a career-high three RBI in game two, besting her previous high of two last season (3/8/20).
- Penn State won three-straight conference games for the first time since the 2017 season when they beat Indiana in two games (4/1-2/17) and then Michigan State in the next game (4/8/17).
- The last time the Nittany Lions won three consecutive games against the same opponent was in the 2016 season against Maryland (4/15-17/16).