UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.— The Penn State softball team (13-11, 0-0 Big Ten) went 2-0 on Friday to open the Penn State Softball Invitational. The Nittany Lions defeated Cornell 3-2 in 8 innings before shutting out Rider 2-0 in the second game.
Maggie Finnegan hit a walk off single to end the first game against the Big Red. Bailey Parshall earned the victory in both games, accumulating her seventh complete game shutout of the season against Rider
Game 1
Mel Coombs started the first game with a bang on the defensive side of the ball. She made a spectacular diving catch in right field for one of the first outs of the game.
Both teams offensively were quiet till the latter stages of the game. In the top of the fifth inning, Emma Antich hit a two RBI double, opening up the scoring and giving Cornell the 2-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions' bats got hot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Finnegan hit a double to right center field, driving in Lydia Coleman and cutting the lead to 2-1. Two batters later, Lauren Marcotte hit an RBI single, driving in Finnegan and tying the game at two.
Both teams were deadlocked after seven innings. Bailey Parshall, who entered the game in relief, kept Cornell off the board in the top of the eighth. It was then Maggie Finnegan who played hero, hitting a single into short left field, scoring Maddie Gordon, and giving Penn State the 2-1 win.
Game 2
Similar to game one, both teams were in a pitching duel. Parshall got the start in the circle for the Nittany Lions and threw another gem. Parshall struck out the first three batters she saw, setting the tone for the entire game.
Anna-Mari Groskritz did a good job for Rider, matching Parshall all the way until the fifth inning. Casey Lindmark hit an RBI double giving Penn State the 1-0 lead, before a fielding error by Rider let Shelli Rivard across the plate for the Nittany Lions' 2-0 advantage.
From there it was all Bailey Parshall. The senior shut down Rider, allowing zero runs while only giving up three hits. Parshall ended the game with six strikeouts.
She earned her seventh complete game shutout of the season as the Nittany Lions won 2-0.
Game Notes
- Bailey Parshall recorded her 500th career strikeout in the win over Rider. She is the sixth Nittany Lion ever to reach that mark.
- Parshall earned her seventh shutout of the 2022 season. She is now fifth in Penn State single season history. Parshall's seven shutouts are also the most a Penn State pitcher has had since the 2006 season.
- Maggie Finnegan had a big game against the Big Red, going 2-2 with a double and a walk off single. It was the first walk off of Finnegan's career. It was also her second multi-RBI game of the season.
- Cassie Lindmark has reached base and gotten a hit in the last eight games. Those are both the second longest streaks on the team this season.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions continue the Penn State Softball Invitational on Saturday with a game against UMass Lowell. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.