COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State softball team battled through another defensive game against Maryland, this time coming out on top, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Maryland Softball Stadium for the victory in game three of the series.
Left-handed pitchers Vanessa Oatley and Bailey Parshall combined for the shutout, the Nittany Lions' first of the season. Oatley earned the win in the circle and Parshall was credited with the save.
Similarly to game one of the series on Friday, game three was very much a show-off of defense and pitching for both teams. Both Penn State (5-21, 5-21 Big Ten) and Maryland (13-18, 13-18 Big Ten) only had three hits and left two runners stranded on base in the game.
Redshirt senior Kennedy Legg started things off for the Nittany Lions in the top of the first with a single to left center. However, Maryland was able to turn a double play to end the opening frame.
The Terrapins also singled in their first offensive attempt of the game with two outs, but the Penn State defense got the third out to keep the game scoreless.
Penn State was taken down in order in the next two frames while Maryland had hits in both, but no runs, as the defenses put in work.
In the top of the fourth, Legg was hit by a pitch to get on base before junior Ally Kurland reached on a fielder's choice. Kurland then advanced to second on a wild pitch with two outs and sophomore Kailee Smith came in to pinch run. With a full count, junior Chelsea Bisi battled at the plate to record a two-out RBI single to center field to score Smith and give the Nittany Lions the advantage.
Oatley, Parshall, and the defense then combined to retire 12 of the next 13 Terrapin batters in the final four innings, only allowing one on by a hit-by-pitch, for the win.
ON DECK
The series finale between Penn State and Maryland will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- Junior pitcher Bailey Parshall came in to throw in relief and registered her 388th career strikeout to move into a tie for sixth all-time in the program record books with Marisa Hanson (2001-04).
- Parshall was also credited with the save, her first of the season and the seventh in her career. She now moves into third alone all-time for career saves, passing Jackie Hill (6; 2007-11).
- Junior Chelsea Bisi had the eventual game-winning RBI single in the top of the fourth, her second game-winning hit of the season (last – at Nebraska, 3/28/21).