LEESBURG, Fla. – The Penn State softball team picked up two big wins on Sunday afternoon over Akron, 3-2, and Pittsburgh, 1-0, to conclude opening weekend at the Northern Lights Southern Nights Tournament held at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.
"I am so proud of the fight and resiliency of our team all weekend, especially with all the close one-run games we had to battle through," said head coach Clarisa Crowell. "Our goal each game is to be competitive and give ourselves an opportunity to win, and we did that each game. I was very pleased with our pitching and defensive performance this weekend, and I was encouraged by our offense's ability to score runs when needed. I am looking forward to seeing the growth of our team throughout the rest of our non-conference tournaments."
Game 1: Penn State 3, Akron 2
Penn State scored three unanswered runs in back-to-back innings to top the Akron Zips, 3-2, in the first game Sunday morning, led by good play on both sides of the ball.
Akron struck first in the opening two frames on two hits and an error to take the early 2-0 lead after two.
The Nittany Lions got one back in the bottom of the third with a two-out stand-up double by senior Ally Kurland followed by a RBI single through the left side by junior Cassie Lindmark to make it 2-1.
After a quick defensive top of the fourth, including two strikeouts from senior pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter, the offense went back to work in the bottom half of the frame.
Junior Michelle Leone started off with a one-out single up the middle and senior Shelli Rivard came in to pinch run. Sophomore Lauren Marcotte then doubled to left center to put both runners in scoring position for the Nittany Lions. A big RBI single from sophomore Liana Jones scored Rivard to tie the game at 2-2 still with one out and runners on the corners.
The Zips got the next out before senior Claire Swedberg came to the plate and beat out the throw at first after the pitcher bobbled the ball which allowed Marcotte to score the eventual winning run to put Penn State ahead, 3-2.
Lingenfelter and the defense then retired nine of the next 10 batters for the comeback win. Lingenfelter struck out seven Zips to tie her career high and picked up her second-straight win in the circle.
Game 2: Penn State 1, Pitt 0
It was a battle of the Keystone State in the Sunshine State for the final game of opening weekend. Penn State came out on top over in-state foe Pitt in the one-run game as it was another pitcher's duel with just seven total hits in the contest and 19 strikeouts from the staff.
The Nittany Lions set the tone in the first inning, juicing the bases on an error and two walks, but the Panthers took care of business to leave all three runners stranded.
After three up, three down frames for both teams in the second, Pitt broke through with the first hit of the game in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third, Swedberg hit a lead-off single down the left field line and then stole second to get in scoring position. Lindmark then came to the plate and doubled to left center to plate Swedberg and put Penn State in front, 1-0.
Pitt threatened to tie it up in its next offensive possession, drawing a walk and hitting a double to put two runners in scoring position. Senior pitcher Bailey Parshall, already with six strikeouts to her name, had ice in her veins though and struck out the next two batters to bring her stats up to eight and to keep her team up after four.
Just like game one, Parshall and the defense retired nine of the next 10 batters for the rivalry win and second shutout of the season.
Parshall finished with 12 strikeouts for her second double-figures strikeout game of the weekend.
ON DECK
Penn State returns to the Sunshine State next weekend, just a little farther south to Miami for the Panther Invitational hosted by FIU, Feb. 18-20. The Nittany Lions will face Cleveland State, host FIU and Buffalo, as well as two additional games against those teams based on finish in the first two.
GAME NOTES
- Junior transfer Cassie Lindmark recorded her first career multi-hit game against Akron. Classmate Michelle Leone also had two hits against the Zips.
- Senior pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter tied her career high with seven strikeouts against Akron.
- Senior pitcher Bailey Parshall registered her first shutout of the season in the 1-0 victory over Pitt. It marks her sixth-career solo shutout.
- Parshall also had 12 strikeouts against Pitt, her second double-digit strikeout game of the season and 12th of her career.
- The 12 strikeouts match the 14th-best single-game mark in program history in which Parshall has done three times previously.
- The Nittany Lions went 2-2 in one-run games this weekend.
- Penn State is above .500 for the first time since the start of the 2020 season when it also finished 3-2 after opening weekend.