CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Penn State softball split their first two games of the Carolina Classic Friday. The Nittany Lions led No. 12 Oregon, 4-2, after three and a half innings, but the Ducks scored 10 unanswered runs for a 12-4 win in eight innings. Penn State came back strong in their nightcap with a 12-0 shutout win over host North Carolina, thanks in part to an eight-run seventh inning.
Game 1: #12 Oregon 12, Penn State 4 (5 innings)
The Nittany Lions came ready to compete against the Ducks and took the lead after three and a half innings. Oregon found their groove offensively in the fourth and went on to the 12-4 win in five innings in the first game of the Carolina Classic.
The Nittany Lions fell behind after a two-run home run by Oregon clean-up hitter Vallery Wong with two out in the first inning.
After a scoreless second frame, Maggie Finnegan reached on an error by shortstop Jasmine Williams and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Claire Swedberg before scoring after another Williams error on Cassie Lindmark's ball to short. Ally Kurland smacked her fourth home run, a two-run shot, of the year to give Penn State a 3-2 lead after three innings.
Michelle Leone extended Penn State's lead to 4-2 with a solo homer, her first career, to open the fourth inning. The Ducks responded in the bottom of the frame with eight runs, including three home runs, to take a 10-4 lead.
The Lions threatened in the top of the fifth, loading the bases on a trio of walks with just one out, but were unable to capitalize. In the bottom of the inning, Maddie Gordon made her collegiate debut in the circle. The Ducks added a pair of runs to secure the 12-4 win in five innings.
Game 2: Penn State 12, North Carolina 0
Penn State looked to bounce back in their second game of the day against North Carolina. Senior Bailey Parshall was impressive in the circle, registering her fourth shutout in eight starts this season. Kurland provided the pop offensively for the Nittany Lions with six RBI thanks to a double and grand slam. Kurland's 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.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, the Nittany Lions broke through as Mel Coombs reached on an error and stole second. She advanced to third as Cassie Lindmark singled to center. Kurland continued to wield a hot bat with a two-run double to right field, which scored Coombs and Lindmark.
Penn State threatened to add to the lead in the fourth inning but could not capitalize on a Lexie Black double and Lilia Crouthamel single.
In the sixth, Lauren Marcotte and Michelle Leone had back-to-back singles with one out. They came around to score on a deep double off the wall in center by Crouthamel to extend the Lions' lead to 4-0.
The Nittany Lions broke it open and batted around in the top of the seventh with an eight-run outburst. Liana Jones started the offensive explosion with a walk, she advanced to second on a fielder's choice by beating out the throw on Mel Coombs' bunt. Lindmark loaded the bases with a walk of her own. Kurland cleared the bases with her first career grand slam and the first Nittany Lion with a grand slam since Toni Polk against Purdue on April 5, 2019.
Back-to-back singles by Leone and Black set up Kaitlyn Morrison's first hit of the season, a double in the gap to score Leone, to extend the lead to 9-0. Liana Jones capped the scoring with her first career home run to plate Black and Morrison, making it 12-0.
Game Notes:
- Ally Kurland hit her fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the third inning to give Penn State a 3-2 lead over the Ducks.
- Kurland added her fifth homer of the season with a grand slam in the seventh inning against the host Tar Heels. She is the first Nittany Lion to hit a grand slam since Toni Polk against Purdue on April 5, 2019.
- Kurland had a career-high six RBI off of her two-run double and grand slam. She 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.
- Kurland's 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.
- Maddie Gordon made her collegiate debut in the circle. The freshman infielder joined the pitching staff in the preseason to provide depth.
- Michelle Leone and Liana Jones each hit their first career home runs. Leone had a solo shot to start the fourth inning against Oregon, while Jones completed the scoring in Penn State's eight-run outburst with a three-run bomb against North Carolina.
- Bailey Parshall earned her fourth shutout of the season and ninth of her career. Her four shutouts this year are a career high.