UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State softball team (24-16, 6-5 Big Ten) dropped the second game of its weekend series against Indiana (23-11, 6-5 Big Ten) 11-5 at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field on Saturday afternoon.
Cassie Lindmark continued her hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Maggie Finnegan hit her second home run in two games while Kaitlyn Morrison hit her first triple of her college career.
How It Happened
Indiana opened the scoring in the top of the first via a two-run home run and wild pitch for the early 3-0 lead. The Hoosiers added another run in top of the second to make it 4-0.
Kaitlyn Morrison got Penn State's bats going in the bottom of the second. She ripped a triple down the right field line for Penn State's first hit of the game. Penn State was unable to capitalize, leaving Morrison on base.
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the bottom of the third. Cassie Lindmark lined a ball into right center, driving in Maggie Finnegan to cut the lead to 4-1. The Nittany Lions were able to get two base runners on in the inning, but a great catch in center field ended the inning.
Laruen Marcotte flashed some leather at short stop in the next half inning, helping put Indiana down 1-2-3. Liana Jones registered a single in the bottom half of the fourth to get on base. Maggie Finnegan then stepped up to the plate and tattooed a ball over the center field fence to make it a 4-3 game. It was her second home run in two games.
Indiana extended its lead in the top of the fifth after a triple and error to make it 6-3. Another hit from the Hoosiers then made it 8-3.
Lindmark registered her second hit of the game and fifth hit of the series through a double in the bottom of the fifth. A fly ball from Michelle Leone followed by an error scored Shelli Rivard to make it an 8-4 game.
Indiana extended its lead to 9-4 after a solo home run in the top of the seventh. The Hoosiers then made it 11-4 later that inning. Penn State registered a run in the final frame but couldn't mount the comeback as the Nittany Lions fell 12-5.
Game Notes
- Cassie Lindmark notched her 14th multi-hit game of the season. So far in the series, the junior is batting .714 with five hits, three doubles, and an RBI with a 1.143 slugging percentage.
- Maggie Finnegan hit her third home run of the season and the fourth of her college career. It was also her fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
- Morrison hit the first triple of her college career. It was the team's fourth triple of the 2022 season.
What's Next
The Nittany Lions and Hoosiers conclude their weekend series tomorrow, Sunday March 17 at Noon. The game will be steamed on B1G+ ($).