UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State softball team (18-13, 1-2 Big Ten) plays host to the Bucknell Bison (4-22, 1-2 PL) on Tuesday night at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on B1G+ ($).
The Nittany Lions are looking to bounce back after dropping two of three games against Maryland in the first Big Ten series of the season. The Nittany Lions won a marathon of a game in game one 2-1 before dropping games two (3-8) and three (4-6). Penn State is undefeated at home against non-conference opposition so far in 2022.
Series History
- The Nittany Lions hold a 31-8 all-time record over the Bison. The first meeting between the teams took place in 1966.
- In the last meeting between Penn State and Bucknell, the Nittany Lions and Bison split a doubleheader on April 24, 2019. Penn State dropped game one 4-2 before winning the second game 9-8.
Last Time Out
- The Nittany Lions opened Big Ten play at home against Maryland last weekend. Penn State won the first game 2-1 in ten innings before dropping the next two contests.
- In game one of the series, a weather delay on Thursday forced the game to be suspended in the top of the sixth inning and continued Friday. After restarting on Friday, the game went to ten innings tied 1-1. Mel Coombs hit a walk off homerun to end the game as Penn State won 2-1. It was the first walk off home run by a Nittany Lion since Toni Polk did it on April 3, 2019 in a 8-7 victory over Saint Francis.
- Penn State struggled in games two and three of the series, losing game two 8-3 before dropping game three 6-4.
Scouting the Bison
- The Bison are 4-22 in 2022 with a 1-2 record in Patriot League play. Last time out, Bucknell defeated Holy Cross 8-0 (5) to notch its first conference win of the season.
- Bucknell has played Purdue in 2022, the only other Big Ten opponent on the Bison's schedule. The Boilermakers shut out Bucknell 8-0 in five innings.
- Nicole Rivait is the offensive leader for the Bison in 2022. The senior from Burlington, Ontario, Canada leads Bucknell in batting average (.321), hits (25), and slugging percentage (.462).
- The Bucknell pitching staff has a combined 5.18 ERA in 2022. Kelly Toomey has seen the majority of innings and has one shutout on the season.
Queen B
- Senior Bailey Parshall continues to be the standout leader on the Penn State pitching in 2022. Parshall leads the Nittany Lions with a 12-4 record and a 1.35 ERA in 114.1 innings pitched.
- Parshall pitched all ten innings in Penn State's opening Big Ten win over Maryland, only allowing one run. It was the most innings pitched by a Nittany Lion in a single game so far this season.
- Parshall's seven shutouts is the best mark in the Big Ten and the second best in Division I.
- Parshall was named Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 21 after going 4-0 with two complete game shutouts. It was the second Big Ten weekly award of her career with her other honor coming in March 2020.
- The gem of Parshall's season is her perfect game against FIU Feb. 18. The perfect game was the fifth in program history and second to be a seven-inning perfect game. Parshall's perfect effort is the first for Penn State since Missy Beseres blanked St. Francis (Pa.) in five innings on March 30, 2005.
- This was also the 14th no-hitter in Penn State history and first since Ashley Esparza shutdown Illinois in a 13-0 win in five innings on April 5, 2008.
Lindmark Leads The Way
- Junior Cassie Lindmark has solidified herself as the most potent offensive weapon the Nittany Lions have in 2022.
- Lindmark has reached base in 15 straight games. It's the longest streak by a Nittany Lion this season.
- After transferring to Happy Valley from Kentucky, Lindmark has been the leader of the Penn State offense. The catcher from Lyons, Illinois leads the Nittany Lions in batting average (.415) and hits (39). She is fifth in batting average and third in on-base percentage (.513) in the Big Ten.
- Lindmark put up monster numbers on the way to being among the Louisville Slugger/Wilson D1 Top Performers of the Week on March 21. The junior hit .500 with eight hits and six RBI. She also had an on base percentage of .636 and a .688 slugging percentage.
Kurland Killing It
- Senior Ally Kurland has been swinging the bat with a purpose as of late. She leads the Nittany Lions in slugging percentage (.733), doubles (13), and home runs (10). Her 13 doubles are third best mark in the country and second best in the Big Ten.
- On March 4, Kurland rocked a grand slam in the seventh inning as part of a 12-0 victory over North Carolina. She is the first Nittany Lion to hit a grand slam since Toni Polk against Purdue on April 5, 2019.
- Kurland also had a career-high six RBI off of her two-run double and grand slam against the Tar Heels. Her six RBI are tied for the third-most in program history and the most by a Penn State player since Alyssa VanDerveer had a school-record seven RBI against Fordham on February 27, 2016.
- Kurland is the first Penn State player with five or more RBI in a game since Rebecca Ziegler have five RBI against Virginia Tech on February 19, 2017.
Coombs Heating Up
- After struggling to start the season, Mel Coombs has started to find her groove at the plate the last couple games.
- Coombs has seven RBI in her last seven games. It accounts for all her RBI in the 2022 season.
- Coombs hit the winning walk off home run in Penn State's Big Ten opener against Maryland on Friday. It was the first walk off home run by a Nittany Lion since Toni Polk's walk off against Saint Francis on April 3, 2019.
On Deck
- The Nittany Lions are set to continue Big Ten play against Purdue this weekend.
- The first game of that series is set for Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. All games of that series will be broadcasted on B1G+ ($).