UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.- After a rainy day that saw multiple time changes and game cancellations, the Penn State softball team (14-11, 0-0 Big Ten) put on a show, run ruling UMass Lowell (11-7, 0-0) 12-2 in five innings.
Ally Kurland led the way for Penn State, hitting a homerun and notching four RBI. Cassie Lindmark accumulated three RBI and Lexie Black hit a home run in the win. Mel Coombs also had 3 RBI in the game. Vanessa Oatley earned the win in her first appearance of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nittany Lions had the bats going right from the start. Penn State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but were unable to capitalize, leaving three on base.
The Riverhawks got on the board first. Tori Mueller singled up the middle, driving in two runs, giving UMass Lowell the early 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
A single and stolen base by Mel Coombs, followed by a walk sparked a two out rally for Penn State in the bottom of the second. It was then Ally Kurland who stepped up to the plate and hit a monster shot over the right field fence, giving Penn State the 3-2 advantage.
Penn State's scoring continued in the third. Lexie Black joined in on the fun, hitting another home run for the Nittany Lions. Mel Coombs got two RBI off a Riverhawk error and an RBI single by Cassie Lindmark had Penn State firmly in the lead.
The Nittany Lions bats stayed alive in the fourth. After loading the bases with no outs, Lilia Crouthamel and Mel Coombs both walked in a run to give Penn State a 9-2 lead. Cassie Lindmark then drove in two runs with a single. Ally Kurland followed up with an RBI double to extend the Nittany Lion lead to 12-2.
In her season debut Vanessa Oatley got the job done, giving up zero hits while striking out one in two innings pitched. She closed out a 12-2 run rule win for Penn State in the fifth inning.
GAME NOTES
- Ally Kurland knocked in her team leading 23rd RBI in the win. It's her fifth multi-RBI game this season, which is tied for most on the team.
- Cassie Lindmark got a hit and got on base for the ninth straight game. Those streaks are tied with Lexie Black for the longest on the team this season. It was also here team leading eighth multi-hit game this season.
- Mel Coombs got three RBI in the win. It was her first multi-RBI game this season.
- Lexie Black hit her sixth home run of the season, which is good for second on the Nittany Lions. It was her first home run since the Duke game on March 8.
- Vanessa Oatley earned her first win in 2022. It was also her first appearance since May 16, 2021, which was a win over No. 23 Minnesota.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions end the weekend with a double header on Sunday. Penn State will first play Cornell at 3 p.m. before ending the weekend against Rider at 5:30 p.m.
Recap written in part by Strategic Communication Intern Dylan Hausner