UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Softball faced a 5-0 deficit, rallied with three runs, but eventually fell short by a score of 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Beard Field.
Prior to Saturday's game, Penn State honored Bill and Lee Beard, who were in attendance. Penn State is celebrating 10 years of its facility, Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field, in 2021.
Penn State faced Michigan ace Alex Storako and was able to get three runs and four hits off the righty. Ally Kurland homered and drove in two runs for the Nittany Lions, while Melina Livingston also drove in a run. Kylee Lingenfelter entered in relief for the Nittany Lions and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of work.
Michigan jumped out to 3-0 lead in the first inning. The first two Wolverine hitters reached on a triple and an error, leading to a Lou Allan three-run home run. Michigan squeaked out an additional run in the second and third inning each on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk to make it a 5-0 Wolverine advantage.
Kurland broke up the no hitter with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 5-1.
Melody Coombs led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and a stolen base. After Kennedy Legg was hit by a pitch, Livingston doubled to left center to score Coombs. Kurland followed with an RBI groundout to trim the lead to 5-3.
Penn State's opportunity to continue the rally fell short in the bottom of the seventh, as the Nittany Lions went down in order.
GAME NOTES
- The home run for Kurland was her third of the season and the ninth of her career.
ON DECK
Penn State next travels to Indiana beginning on May 7 for a four-game series with the Hoosiers.